Dairy farmer and 'his little girl' killed in Southland car crash

Friday, 4 September 2020

A 22-year-old father who died in a fatal crash in Southland with his baby will be remembered as someone with an “amazing nature” who everybody loved, his mum says.

Matthew Dale Harris, 22, and his infant daughter, Ruby Jane Harris, died after the vehicle they were in was struck by another vehicle on State Highway 6, near Invercargill, about 4pm on Wednesday.

The crash happened about 150m north of the Makarewa Bridge. It is understood an oncoming vehicle caused the crash when it crossed the centreline.

Cathy Harris did not want to discuss the crash while police were still investigating, but told Stuff her son was a “likeable, respectful, genuine young man”.

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Matt Harris had started his third season working on a dairy farm this year – a job he really liked, she said. He also enjoyed four-wheel driving, and had recently purchased a new ute.

His other passion was family. Cathy Harris said described him as an amazing, hands-on dad who always wanted to spend time with Ruby.

“She had just learned to say ‘Dadda’,” Cathy Harris said. It was her first word.

“Her face just lit up whenever he was in the room.”

The smiley and gorgeous Ruby was “the apple of everyone’s eye”.

Ruby's mum and Matt Harris’ partner, Brooke McDowall-Blick, 24, said Ruby used to love going in a stroller with her to watch her feed calves early in the morning.

McDowall-Blick was travelling in the car at the time of the crash and survived.

The couple had been together five years and both worked as dairy farmers.

McDowall-Blick described Harris as an “amazing partner and dad” and said he was “dearly loved” by everybody.

Cathy Harris said the couple were “very rarely apart”.

She would remember her son as someone who made friends wherever he went.

'Everybody just loved him. He's got so many friends that we've heard from that just had treasured memories of him and how he was just such a great mate.

'He was just a super special guy.”

Harris had an older sister and four younger brothers.

One of those brothers, Luke Harris, 18, was best mates and lived with Matt.

He said one of his best memories with his brother was a recent trip to a Highlanders rugby match in early August.

Cathy Harris said her son had a great time during the trip and kept sending people Snapchat photos of how much fun he was having.

Luke Harris said he was now going to live his life for his brother and neice.

In a statement on Friday night, police said they extended their sympathies to the family and friends.

Investigations are ongoing to establish what occurred.

A teenager in one of the other three vehicles was critically injured, and remains in Dunedin Hospital.

Three other people suffered non-life threatening injuries.