One of five teens hospitalised following a crash in which two others died remained in a critical condition in Wellington Hospital today.
Max Harman, 19, and Robert Waikari, 17, both of Hastings, died when the Ford ecovan they were travelling in crossed the centreline and ploughed into an oncoming car on a bridge on State Highway 50, on the outskirts of Napier, early yesterday.
They were thrown out of the vehicle over the bridge railings landing in the Tutaekuri River 15m below.
A young woman who was also flung over the bridge was seriously injured but managed to walked out of the river.
One occupant of the van Ben Morrison, 19, was airlifted to Wellington Hospital where he remained in a critical condition today.
Four other teens -- two 17-year-old females and two males, aged 17 and 18, -- were in a stable conditions in general wards in Hastings Hospital.
They included the car driver 18-year-old Simon Taunt and his girlfriend.
The Herald on Sunday reported today that the van, carrying seven people, was driven by 16-year-old Tamoko Christy.
Police said the driver had been drinking, describing the accident as a "lethal combination" of youth, alcohol and driving.
They said a decision on what charges the driver would face would not be made for some time.
The van's occupants, all between 16 and 19, had been to a party before the 2am crash, eastern road policing manager Inspector Chris Wallace said.
` "This crash was avoidable and the result is that two young lives have been lost and several others are seriously injured. It's a tragedy that need not have happened."
