Corey Thompson and Kendra Smith were seriously injured in a crash near Levin last week. PHOTO/GIVEALITTLE
A pregnant mother, formerly the president of the Featherston Rugby Club, has lost her baby after a motorcycle crash with a truck near Levin last week.
Her partner also lost a leg in the crash.
On January 12, Kendra Smith had been travelling with partner Corey Thompson to deliver petrol to Thompson’s twin brother, who had been stranded.
At about 12.45pm, their motorcycle collided with a truck on State Highway 1 near the Ohau River Bridge, 5km south of Levin.
Helicopters transported Smith and Thompson separately to Wellington Hospital. Both were in serious conditions.
Smith was five months pregnant with her first child with Thompson. The baby did not survive the trauma of the crash.
“Kendra was wailing when she found out she lost the baby,” Smith’s aunty Nifo Ili said.
“They’re trying to cope with all this that’s happened.”
Smith had rods inserted into bone fractures in one of her legs.
Doctors hoped that it could be saved.
Thompson lost a leg in the crash. He also had a badly damaged arm which was saved through surgery.
Surgeons told Smith and Thompson to expect recovery times of from 12 to 18 months.
Smith was heavily involved in the Featherston community, taking on the role of president of the Featherston Rugby Club before meeting and falling in love with Thompson.
Ili said that the club had been struggling before Smith had poured her heart into it and brought it back from the brink.
Smith and Thompson had since been involved with outreach on the Kapiti Coast, helping Maori and Pasifika youth.
Smith had also worked in retail and has set up her own cleaning business, while Thompson was a painter and plasterer.
Thompson had three girls and Smith had a young son from previous relationships. Family friend Ritchie Wards said the pair were “committed and amazing parents”.
Wards had set up a Givealittle page to help Smith and Thompson with their recovery, and to support their children. By Sunday afternoon, more than $12,000 had been donated.
“Throughout everything that’s happened over the last few days, Kendra, Corey and their families have done their best to remain positive, especially for their young families,” Wards said on the page.
Ili said that any donations of any size were appreciated.
“Anything that you can spare, it doesn’t matter how much.” — NZME
- If you would like to donate, visit givealittle.co.nz/cause/kendraandcorey.
