Mother Frances Latu-Vailea killed in Waiuku crash leaves behind three children including young baby

A man who lost his wife, five-year-old daughter and niece in a triple-fatal crash on the way home from school wants to thank the first responders, and the wider community for their support.

Frances Latu-Vailea, her five-year-old daughter Oneahi Vailea and seven-year-old niece Marly Tulua died when their car left Masters Road and crashed into a culvert in wetland on Tuesday afternoon.

A Givealittle page set up for the families said the "devastating accident" had left Latu-Vailea's husband, Amanaki Vailea suddenly widowed and the sole caregiver for their three sons, aged eight weeks, two, and 12.

A family spokesperson told RNZ Latu-Vailea had just picked up her daughter and niece from school and was on her way home when they crashed.

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The spokesperson said Amanaki Vailea was "in shock", but wanted to thank those first on the scene, including emergency services and the wider community for their support.

"He just really wants to thank everyone, because he just doesn't have the capacity to do it himself," they said.

Latu-Vailea's "whole life was being a mum," the spokesperson said.

"Both [Vailea] and her work really hard to provide the four kids with the best life possible that they could. She just did everything for everyone," the spokesperson said.

"They're just the most loving family and always helping anyone.. it's just not very fair."

Oneahi Vailea had only started school last term, the spokesperson said.

"She was just bright and loved animals and dinosaurs... she was always happy and singing."

The spokesperson said the fundraiser was created to help the families so they can take time off work to grieve.

The page said the money would help give Latu-Vailea's husband time to grieve without the burden of immediate financial pressures such as the mortgage and household bills. It would also provide essential support as he "navigates caring for their young boys and processing such an unimaginable loss", it said.

Donations would also help support Tulua's family who are "also mourning deeply while caring for their own young baby and facing the pain of losing Marly, Frances, and Oneahi".

"No words can ease the pain, but your kindness and support can help lighten the heavy load these families are carrying right now," the Givealittle page said.

"Any contribution, big or small, will make a difference."

Latu-Vailea worked as a court registry officer, and the head of the Ministry of Justice said staff were devastated at the sudden death of their colleague.

Chief executive Andrew Kibblewhite said Latu-Vailea was a court registry officer for the Family Court, primarily based at Pukekohe District Court.

He said she worked in many locations including North Shore, Manukau and Papakura, and the tragedy would have a huge impact on many people.

Kibblewhile said he and his staff offered their deepest condolences to Latu-Vailea's immediate and extended family.

"We are all thinking of Frances' family, and our wider Auckland kaimahi, and offering our support during this very difficult time," he said.

The deaths have also sent shockwaves through the tight-knit Waiuku community.

"It's pretty devastating actually. It's a small town, most people know someone who knows them if they don't know them themselves," local Jennie Tapp said.

"The fact that it was a woman and two children, it just blows your mind."

Another resident Inga Anja Noom said Masters Road had a bad reputation.

"We all feel sick because usually in a small town like this everyone knows somebody and it's a horrible stretch of road and it's not the first and it probably won't be the last. But yeah, no, it's heartbreaking."

Noom said it was particularly dangerous in wet weather.

"It's quite narrow, it's windy in the start up to it and then it's just one long stretch with humps in the road and bridges and stuff," she said.

"And with weather like this in wintertime, the creeks are completely full on either side, it's really bad."

Locals say the narrow, bumpy road will continue causing accidents until speed limits are enforced.

Masters Road falls on the border between Auckland and Waikato and was a concern for both regions' councillors.

Waikato district councillor Peter Thomson said it was often used as a shortcut around the more tightly managed main road between Waiuku and Pukekohe.

"I've heard that it's been used as a bypass to the Waiuku-Pukekohe road, so people can feel that they can travel faster on this road rather than the Pukekohe-Waiuku road, which has got a number of speed cameras on it and is only 80 [kilometres per hour]," he said.

Andy Baker, the councillor for Auckland's Franklin Ward which contained Waiuku, said the road was narrow and bumpy.

"This road is predominantly straight, it runs from both ends, it's basically a straight line but it's very undulating and from what I can see where the crash was, it's in a dip, and there's a lot of trees around," Baker said.

But Baker said it was too early to determine if the road was a factor in the fatal crash.

"I think it's a little bit premature maybe to say the road's at fault here or there's an issue with the road," he said.

"I know that some locals have been concerned about some things, whether they were contributing to the crash, we won't know until the Serious Crash Unit do their report and eventually it'll run through a coroner's court."

Resident Noom said Masters Road still needed speed cameras like the main Waiuku-Pukekohe road.

"Well if they're going to do it on one side, they'll probably have to do it the other, and everyone will hate me saying that but this is what's happening," she said.

"We had a crash there two weeks ago, they walked away from that one. We had a death there last year and it won't be the last."

She said the crashes would continue until motorists were given a reason to slow down.

The Givealittle page can be found here.

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