Waikato family request privacy as the cope with crash's second fatality

As Waikato Police investigate the death of a mother and son in a vehicle collision outside Cambridge last week deal with varying witness statements the bereaved family appeal to the media for privacy.

District Road Policing Manager, Inspector Leo Tooman, said the investigation by members of the Waikato Serious Crash Unit was still underway, trying to determine what caused the crash that cost the life of 46-year-old Anna Maree PIDDUCK and her nine-year-old son, Jacob Eric HENDERSON.

"We have one witness describing Ms PIDDUCK'S Ford Falcon coming to a stop for an oncoming truck at the intersection of Kaipaki and Cambridge Roads and then pulling out into the path of a second.

"Another witness describes the same vehicle slowing down but not stopping at the intersection and pulling out between the two trucks and being struck by the second, an empty tar tanker."

Ms PIDDUCK died at the scene of the crash however her son fought for six days before succumbing to his injuries in Auckland's Starship Hospital yesterday.

Having to come to terms with the loss of two family members was taking its toll according to family spokesman, Michael Pidduck of Cambridge.

"At this time I would like to acknowledge the support we have received from people in the local community however we ask the media to respect our privacy at this time to enable us to make arrangements for Jacob's funeral and to grieve his and his mother's loss."