A Wairarapa school has been left reeling by the death of one of its pupils in a car crash.
Rathkeale College year 13 student Murad Salayev died after a two-vehicle crash on Main Road North at Timberlea north of Upper Hutt on Friday, October 13. A second person was taken to hospital with moderate injuries. SH2 was closed for almost five hours while the police investigation was completed and the crash scene was cleared.
Rathkeale principal Martin O’Grady provided the Times-Age with a statement regarding the tragedy, which is reproduced in full.
“The Rathkeale College community is devastated by the news that one of their Year 13 boarding students, Murad Salayev, was tragically killed in a car accident last Friday as he was driving back home to Wellington,” the statement said.
“Murad joined Rathkeale College at the start of 2022 as a Year 12 student after spending most of his schooling in the Wellington region. Upon arriving at Rathkeale, Murad immediately settled into the life of the boarding houses and day school and made a positive impact in many areas of the school. This year, he was appointed a boarding house prefect. Murad had experienced significant success this year and had a clear plan of where he was going with his life, with a plan to study Engineering at the University of Canterbury next year.
“Everyone at Rathkeale College feels for Murad’s family as they contend with the sudden loss of a treasured brother and son, and they are being supported through this difficult time.
“The college community has rallied around everyone who is affected, especially the students, as they deal with this very sad event. Our thoughts and prayers go to Murad’s family.”
It is understood that the funeral service will be at Old St Paul’s Cathedral in Wellington on October 28 at 11am.
