Student still critical after road smash

One of the five Rotorua Girls' High School students injured in a crash on State Highway 33 at Tikitere remains in a critical condition at Waikato Hospital.
Tui Martin is still in a critical condition at Waikato Hospital after the vehicle she and four friends were travelling in was in a collision with a Toyota Hilux utility last Thursday.
Another of the five girls has been discharged from Rotorua Hospital while two others still at Rotorua Hospital were likely to go home this week.
Adrianne Martin-Ohlsen had been discharged, Lakes District Health Board communications officer Sue Wilkie said.
Cheyenne Grace and Bobby-Leigh Morrison were still in a stable condition and improving and likely to go home this week.
Kristi-Rae Ruri-Gardiner was taken off life support at Waikato Hospital on Friday and passed away just after 8pm surrounded by family and friends.
Kristi's funeral was to be held at the Rotorua Girls' High School Arena at midday today.
Meanwhile, two of the 12 teenagers injured when the van they were travelling in crashed on July 17 - Aaron Gourlay and Jesse Howe - remain in a critical condition in intensive care at Waikato Hospital. Daisy Sparke and Hope Archer are both in a stable condition in a ward at Waikato Hospital. Two of the teenagers who had been in Rotorua Hospital since the smash had now been discharged, Ms Wilkie said. The other six teens had been treated and discharged previously.
Hundreds of Rotorua high schools students will be taking part in road safety expos next month following the two serious crashes in the past two weeks.
Two hundred and fifty Western Heights High School students are set to take part in the Rotary Youth Driver Awareness event on August 4 and students from John Paul College, Rotorua Boys' High School, and Reporoa College will attend Blue Light's Anti Drink Drive Drug Expo in Tauranga on August 16.
Rotorua District Council road safety co-ordinator Jodie Lawson said road safety awareness had been heightened by the crashes which involved 17 young people.
"John Paul College asked to bring all 160 of their Year 11 students to the Anti Drink Drive Drug Expo. They want to do whatever they can to support the safety of youth on our roads," she said.
"The feeling around schools is 'how many more crashes can one community take?' Students, teachers and parents are realising the importance of taking advantage of road safety initiatives that are available for Rotorua schools," Ms Lawson said. Ms Lawson urged parents to enrol their children in defensive driving courses or to sign up for Practice, a NZ Transport Agency practical driving programme to help learner drivers develop the skills they need to pass their restricted licence test.