Hanmer Springs chef Boney Biju killed on 21st birthday in crash
Sunday, 24 December 2017
A young chef who died on his 21st birthday after losing control of his car and wrapping it around a tree has been described as a 'calm and quiet' person who was 'passionate' about cooking.
Boney Biju, an Indian national in New Zealand on a work visa, was killed after losing control of his car about 12.40am on Sunday on Jollies Pass Rd, about 2 kilometres east of Hanmer Springs where he worked in a local restaurant.
The 21-year-old, who had been celebrating his birthday at a bar in the alpine resort town, was named by a website catering to the Indian diaspora population in New Zealand, Indian Weekender.
The owner of the restaurant where Biju worked confirmed this, but did not want his name used nor that of the business as he said it could re-traumatise staff in what was a 'very upsetting' time.
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He said Biju moved from India to New Zealand about two years ago to study culinary arts in Auckland, then took a job at the Hanmer Springs restaurant about four months ago.
'He was a calm and quiet person, and very passionate about his career, about food. Everyone at the restaurant loved him for his attitude, or behaviour. I would describe him as a gentleman, he was always well presented and nice,' the man said.
A 20-year-old German national, the only passenger in the car, was flown to Wellington Hospital following the crash. A Capital & Coast District Health Board spokeswoman said he remained in a critical condition on Sunday.
The restaurant owner said Biju had been drinking at a bar where the German man worked to celebrate his 21st birthday. Police said they suspected alcohol and 'definitely' speed as factors in the crash. Biju's death brought the holiday road toll to five.
'It's very upsetting. … We all work as a team around this restaurant. We don't have families settled in the town so we look after each other, we work together as a family,' the restaurant owner said.
'Something like this, especially on his birthday is unbelievable. It's really unbelievable and it's hard for us to accept he's not here with us anymore. We're all shocked.'
Biju's family were understood to be from the Indian state of Kerala. Indian Weekender reported the High Commission of India had contacted the family, however attempts by Stuff to confirm this with the commission were unsuccessful.
On December 22, the commission posted to Facebook urging drivers to exercise caution and pointing out 'a record number of Indians have lost their life in NZ this year, not only on the road, but in other accidents too'.
'We have sent too many of our loved ones on their last journey back to India this year.'
The restaurant owner said he understood Biju's family had been contacted and he helped arrange for the 21-year-old's body to be returned to India for a funeral.
Canterbury rural area commander Inspector Peter Cooper said the killed man turned 21 years old 40 minutes before the crash.
The crash brought the holiday road toll to three . It now stands at five.
'It's the decisions we make that are costing lives. We're making poor decisions behind the wheel. You've got to think when you drive,' Cooper said.
CAR WRAPPED AROUND TREE
Hanmer Springs Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer John Donaldson said his brigade was first on the scene with two trucks and about 10 firefighters.
The car was heading towards Hanmer Springs when it crashed 'right outside the entrance' of the Hanmer Springs Forest Park, about 2 kilometres from the township.
Donaldson said firefighters found the car wrapped around a tree and 'smouldering'.
'It was on fire in some places underneath from the grass and electrical components.
'If you can imagine the gear lever in the centre of the car, that's basically where the tree was sitting. The car was basically just about folded in half in some areas because of the impact of wrapping around the tree.'
Firefighters effectively had to 'dismantle' the car, including removing the roof, to reach the injured passenger. They gave the man first aid until St John paramedics arrived and took over, Donaldson said.
The Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter flew the man to hospital. The weather conditions prevented a helicopter coming from Christchurch, Donaldson said.
He said there was rain about 5pm on Saturday and said the road would have been 'slightly' wet as a result.
The police serious crash unit is investigating the cause of the crash.
THE HOLIDAY ROAD TOLL
Auckland - A 29-year-old taxi driver, Abdul Raheem Fahad Syed, was killed when an alleged drink-driver crashed into his car on Symonds St, Auckland, at 4:45am on Saturday.
Maungatapere - A person died after a single-vehicle crash on State Highway 14, near Maungatapere, Northland, on Saturday at 5.45pm. Two other occupants were injured and taken to Whangarei Hospital.
Hawke's Bay - A person was killed in central Hawke's Bay at 5.35am on Sunday after a vehicle rolled down a bank on Pourerere Rd. The vehicle's passenger died at the scene and the driver sustained minor injuries.
Hanmer Springs - Boney Biju, an Indian national in New Zealand on a work visa died after a car hit a tree on Jollies Pass Rd, Hanmer Springs, at 12.40am on Sunday. The vehicle's passenger sustained serious injuries and was transported to hospital by helicopter.
Hamurana - A woman died after a three-car crash on State Highway 5, about 9.16pm on Sunday. The driver and passenger in the second car involved have serious injuries, and the driver of the third car involved has minor injuries.
** A man died in a motorcycle crash in Buller, on the South Island's West Coast, but because the crash was on private property his death does not count towards the road toll.