The mother of one of the women who died in a two-car crash near Thames yesterday has paid tribute to her daughter.
Natasha Strydom of Waiuku, South Auckland, and Jani Von Wielligh of Adelaide, both 20, died in a crash on State Highway 25 near the intersection of Pipiroa Road about 7.45am yesterday.
Miss Strydom's mother Charmaine Strydom posted a picture of her family to Facebook and said: "Thank you God for the best twenty years of my life!"
Inspector Dana McDonald said speed and alcohol were not factors in the crash and both women had been wearing seatbelts.
"All we can say at this stage are initial indications are the west-bound Volkswagen car appears to have crossed the centre-line and collided with the Mazda in the east-bound lane."
The woman driving the Volkswagen suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to Waikato Hospital where she was reported as being in a serious but stable condition overnight.
NZME.
