The mother of a teenager killed in a double-fatal crash in Hawke's Bay yesterday has urged awareness about drink-driving dangers.
Max Harman, 19, and Robert Waikari, 17, both of Hastings, died when the Ford Econovan 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, about 2am.
They were thrown out of the vehicle over the bridge railings, landing in the Tutaekuri River 15m below.
The van's driver, 16-year-old Tamoko Christy, had been drinking, police said.
Mr Waikari's mother, Carole Johnstone, told One News tonight she was not angry about the driver, saying it was her son's choice to get in the van.
"No one's perfect and I'm not going to pass judgement on anyone."
However, Ms Johnstone said lessons were to be learnt from the tragic event.
"Make sure your bloody driver's sober," she said.
Another young woman was also flung over the bridge in the accident, but managed to walk out of the river despite serious injuries.
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, Melody Dane.
Mr Taunt spoke about the crash to 3 News, saying he had seen headlights ahead moving side to side before he realised the van was coming straight at them.
"So I pulled the car to the left and that's when it hit us and rolled over us and I got knocked out by the steering wheel and came awake, realised what had happened and jumped out the window and ripped Melody's door open and grabbed her out," he said.
"I feel pretty stink for the people in the van really, it all happened so fast. It's exactly like those ads they have on TV."
Police said described 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.
