A devastated father has farewelled his young daughter in an emotional phone call from prison just moments before she was taken off life support.
Nivek Madams’ life support was turned off on Wednesday, making her the seventh person to die in New Zealand’s worst road disaster in 13 years.
Her father whispered his last words to her over the phone from his cell, a family member told the New Zealand Herald.
The eight-year-old, who celebrated her birthday the previous day, was sitting in the back seat of her family’s car when her stepfather slammed into an oncoming vehicle in South Taranaki, instantly killing four elderly people inside.
Her stepfather also died at the scene, along with her five-month-old sister Shae.
Nivek Madams’ (pictured with her godmother) devastated father said goodbye to his eight-year-old daughter in an emotional phone call from his New Zealand jail cell just moments before she was taken off life support
Nivek was sitting in the back seat of the car when her stepfather slammed into an oncoming vehicle in South Taranaki, New Zealand, instantly killing four elderly people inside
Grieving family members told the publication they had lost their two ‘precious princesses’.
The girls’ mother is the only survivor of the horrific crash. She is in a stable condition at Wellington Hospital, waking up to the heartbreaking reality that her entire family was killed in the devastating prang.
The two cars collided about 11am on Wednesday at the intersection of Ihupuku Rd and the State Highway, close to Waverley Racecourse.
Three rescue helicopters, two fire engines, three ambulances and dozens of police officers were sent to the ‘chaotic’ crash site.
A local woman working close to the area told the New Zealand Herald the scene was ‘a mess’.
‘It looked like a vehicle had crossed the centre line and collided head-on with another vehicle,’ she said.
Her stepfather also died at the scene, along with her five-month-old sister Shae
The girls’ mother is the only survivor of the horrific crash. She is in a stable condition at Wellington Hospital, waking up to the heartbreaking reality that her entire family was killed in the devastating prang
Locals said the road was wet and slippery after a heavy frost on Wednesday morning.
The roads were closed for a couple of hours as the Serious Crash Unit investigated the terrible collision. They were reopened later in the evening.
Police cautioned all the motorists across Taranaki and surrounding regions to be ‘extremely cautious’ after four crashes had been reported because of ice on the road since 5am on Wednesday.
The crash is the country’s worst road disaster in 13 years.
In 1963, a bus carrying 35 passengers crashed, killing 15 people.