Dunedin crash victim named

Nakita Strange. Photo YouTube
Nakita Strange. Photo YouTube

Family are mourning the death of 18-year-old Nakita May Strange, who was killed in a horrific crash in central Dunedin early yesterday morning.

Miss Strange was a passenger in a Ford Laser carrying six young people. The car was allegedly driven through a give-way controlled intersection about 2.15am and was T-boned by an oncoming Ford Courier ute.

Police have confirmed the deceased was Miss Strange. 

A death notice published in the Southland Times this morning paid tribute to the "dearly loved daughter and friend''.

The notice said the "loved'', "cherished'' and "adored'' teenager would be "sadly missed''.

Witnesses of the crash described how before paramedics arrived, the ute's driver provided CPR to the teenager after the crash at the intersection of Stafford and Hope Sts.

A police spokesman said the Laser failed to give way and was hit by the Courier, which was being driven up Stafford St.

The driver of the Laser fled, but was found by police nearby, he said.

The driver was assisting police with their inquiries.

St John paramedics took the Laser's six occupants to Dunedin Hospital's emergency department by ambulance.

The Courier's driver, its sole occupant, was uninjured.

Witnesses say they were woken by the crash and rushed to help the victims.

Hope St resident Leah Coster said she awoke when she heard what ''sounded like pots and pans''.

''I thought someone had dropped their dishes and then I looked out my window and thought 'What do I do?','' she said.

''They [the Laser's occupants] were in bad shape. The lady in the back-seat was unconscious, so our priority was getting her out.''

She called emergency services, who provided instructions to her which she relayed to her flatmate, who was providing care to the injured.

''The driver of [the Courier] did CPR,'' she said.

The 18-year-old regained consciousness before being taken to hospital, she said.

Tributes have flowed for the teenager since the tragic news broke among friends and family.

''You were a beautiful young girl that got taken way too soon,'' one tribute said.

''Earth lost a beautiful person but heaven gained an amazing angel. Rest easy ... gone but never forgotten.''

Others paid tribute to the ''sweetheart'' whose ''smile lit up the room''.

"Memories are priceless treasures that will always be in the hearts of those who knew and love Nikita xx goodbye lovely. You will be sadly missed xx,'' another tribute, posted this morning, said.

Police said two of the Laser's other occupants remain in hospital - one with serious facial injuries which require further medical treatment and the other with minor upper body injuries, who is due to be released in coming days.

Details for the Miss Strange's funeral will be announced later.

 

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