Victim of fatal crash near St Andrews named

Canterbury Police are now able to name the victim of the fatal crash near St Andrews that is reported to have occurred shortly after 2.45pm last Friday (10 April 2015).  She was four year old Cloey Mikayla Faber-Thomas from Auckland. The death has been referred to the Coroner.  The next of kin are understandably extremely upset and the services of Victim Support have been offered to them. Cloey’s family have said they will not be making any comment at this time apart from asking for privacy. Cloey was a rear seat passenger in a north-bound Nissan Tida with her parents and sibling at the time of the crash.  They are being treated in Christchurch Hospital and have asked that no update on their condition be made at this time.  The driver and passenger of the south-bound Nissan Terrano were taken to Timaru Hospital as a precaution and have since been discharged.  The occupants of both vehicles were wearing appropriate restraints and Cloey was in an approved and correctly fitted car seat. Witnesses report that the Nissan Tida crossed the centre line as it exited a bend south of St Andrews.  SH1 Waimate Highway was closed for over 7 hours while Canterbury Police Serious Crash Unit completed a scene examination and the area was cleared. Canterbury Police investigations into the crash are continuing. Canterbury Police would like to thank the Fire Service, St John and Westpac Rescue Helicopter for their help and the public for their patience while the state highway was closed on Friday. —