KEY POINTS:
Aaron Chan had always been happy to help out with whatever was needed in the family business, even as a young teenager. But this week the job he'd done so happily and for so long claimed his life when he was hit by a speeding car in Glen Eden.
The 21-year-old was unloading boxes of stock with his brother-in-law on Monday night when he was hit by a Nissan Skyline and thrown through the windscreen. His arm was severed and he died minutes later.
Witnesses initially believed the Nissan had been racing a Subaru WRX, which also crashed, because both cars had been seen travelling alongside each other moments before the collision on West Coast Rd.
However, other people have since come forward and told the Weekend Herald they saw the two cars together at Parrs Cross Rd, several kilometres away, and that the drivers appeared to have been fighting.
One West Coast Rd resident, who did not want to be named, said she saw the cars "bumping" against each other in anger as they headed along the road.
After going through traffic lights, the cars remained side by side even though the two lanes merged into one. As they approached Mr Chan's truck the Nissan had nowhere to go and slammed into the back of it, throwing him onto the bonnet and then through the windscreen.
Damaged caused during the crash was still visible yesterday, with police paint marking the path the crashing cars travelled and bouquets of flowers resting against a damaged tree stump and brick fence.
Mr Chan's family, accompanied by several Buddhist monks, held a special blessing ceremony there yesterday morning. The funeral is planned for Monday.
A table was covered with food - gifts to the gods - flowers and incense. Music played quietly while relatives burned paper money, a tradition that is believed to help the deceased live comfortably in the next world.
A girlfriend of Mr Chan's brother said the delivery driver was a "really good guy" who "loved his friends and his family".
He lived with his parents - who were believed to have been overseas on holiday when he was killed - and his siblings at their family home in Howick. His brother and at least one of his sisters have companies in the gift shop/trading industry and Mr Chan was believed to have been making a delivery for them on the night he died.
One friend, who did not want to be named, said Mr Chan worked long hours.
"He's a hardworking person, working for his family most of the time."
Former high school classmate and good friend Hunter Liu said he could remember Mr Chan helping his dad with the family business from as young as 13.
The Chan family moved to New Zealand from Hong Kong about 10 years ago. Mr Chan attended Cockle Bay primary school, then Howick College where he played basketball and was known for his sense of humour.
Detective Sergeant Roger Small said police were still investigating the circumstances of the fatal crash.
