Victim's grieving mother struggles to take in hit-and-run tragedy

The mother of a teenage boy who died after a car was driven into a crowd of people says she is struggling to understand how it could have happened to her son.

Kane Wright, 19, died late Monday night in Middlemore Hospital.

He was rushed to hospital in a critical condition following the incident early on Sunday morning.

Melissa Viall, 23, an early childhood teaching student, was killed when she went to the aid of Mr Wright and two other men who were hit by the car. Those men, aged 27 and 31, were hurt but their condition was stable.

Ms Viall was trying to help the men when the car allegedly turned and drove back, hitting her. She had died from head injuries by the time police arrived. A 24-year-old apprentice mechanic, who has interim name suppression, appeared in the Manukau District Court on Monday charged with Ms Viall's murder.

He now faces a second murder charge.

"The second charge of murder will be laid some time prior to the accused's next court appearance,"said Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Lynch.

Kane's mother, Sharon, yesterday told the Herald that it was difficult to take in what had happened.

"I haven't even comprehended that somebody did this to him because I don't want to hear any of it."

She said the family had been at Middlemore Hospital with Kane until midnight on Monday.

She said the family hadn't been following media coverage of the incident.

"It's very hard. I don't want to talk right now."

Kane's brother expressed anger that the accused had name suppression.

"We haven't worked out what happened that night or anything ... Was he hit in the first run or the second run? Did that girl [Melissa] help him out or anything like that?"