Young mum 'shattered' over toddler son's death

Samantha Mauheni adored her 21-month-old son Kingston, family members say. Photo / Supplied

A young Gisborne mother whose son died when she accidentally pushed her car over him is "absolutely shattered", family say.

Samantha Mauheni pushed her car over her 21-month-old son, Kingston, while she was trying to get a toy motorbike out from under the vehicle.

She reversed over the toy in her Lorraine St driveway, in Kaiti, and when she went to get it out from under her back wheel, her car lurched too far forward.

Miss Mauheni, 21, did not know Kingston was in front of the car and started screaming when she heard it hit him.

The child was taken to Gisborne Hospital, but died a short time later.

Kingston's great grand-aunt, of Opotiki, said Miss Mauheni was completely shattered over Kingston's death.

"She's still a mess, absolutely shattered," she told the Herald.

"She loved her baby - people were jealous of how much she loved her son. She was a really neat mum."

The woman, who asked not to be named, said Miss Mauheni's partner was also in complete shock over the loss of the couple's only child.

"He's not talking, he's totally unresponsive as well. Both mum and dad are completely shattered."

The woman said Kingston's death was a "freak accident".

"Things like this, they do happen - they're just horrible, horrific accidents.

"When she heard she'd ran over the toy motorbike, she went to get out to try and grab the motorbike out from under the wheel - she didn't see her son in front of the car.

"So she just pushed the car forward, Young mum 'shattered'

after toddler son's death

not knowing bubba was in front of it. Then when she pulled the bike out from under the wheel, the car went too far forward.

"But then when she went around and heard him scream, it was too late."

She said Kingston dashed in front of the car and when Miss Mauheni realised where he was, he had been hit.

"You know how kids can be really mischievous and fast - one minute they're in front of you and the next you're chasing them. That's what happened. He was probably trying to pop around the other side of the car to get in next to his mum because she takes him everywhere with her."

Kingston died two hours after he was taken to hospital.

"The doctors and nurses tried everything they could for him, but his little heart just gave way," the great grand-aunt said.

She described Kingston as mischievous, outgoing and interested in everything, and said he followed his parents everywhere.

"He was a little ray of sunshine ... He was a beautiful little boy, a honey."

She said Miss Mauheni and her partner were last night going to Opotiki, where both sides of the family could support them through their loss.

Eastern District police spokeswoman Kris McGehan said the investigation was on-going and it had not yet been established whether charges would be laid against Miss Mauheni.