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Three generations of same family including baby killed in HORRIFIC head-on collision with truck

The family's van collided head-on with a refrigerated truck on State Highway 1, leading to the deaths of seven of the nine people on board

Three generations of a Filipino family were killed in a horrific head-on collision on Sunday, June 19, in Picton, New Zealand. According to reports, the family's van collided head-on with a refrigerated truck on State Highway 1, leading to their tragic deaths. Seven of the nine people on board the vehicle were killed, including the driver.

Heartbreaking images of the scene show the destroyed van lying on the highway while the investigation progresses. "Police can confirm that one of the deceased was the driver of the van at the time of the crash. As such, the matter will be referred to the Coroner in due course. Police's focus remains on gathering information to assist the Coroner, and on supporting the victims in this crash and our first responders," said Marlborough Police area commander Inspector Simon Feltham, as per The New Zealand Herald.

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The two survivors from the crash are currently in Wellington Hospital, one in serious condition and one in serious but stable condition, as per the portal. "You spend every spare moment thinking of the what-ifs and the whys. They spent some of their last hours on earth with me on Saturday night, Sunday morning. This was a vibrant family, my friend was a high school teacher... his wife started an online business and he was really proud of her," Bill, a friend of the family, told Newstalk ZB.

"They had four boys and girls. One of the boys had married a Taiwanese young lady and it was their baby that died. I was really taken with this young woman, she was so nice and it really hits home at my heart that she's gone and the baby's gone. Her husband survived... he's going to wake up and find that he's now alone," he added.

Auckland Filipino community leader Romy Udanga said, "This is really a terrible and shocking news for the community, and all our thoughts are with the families and those affected. It really also serves as a wake-up call for others in the community to be extra careful on the roads this long weekend." Former consul general of the Philippines Emilie Shi confirmed that the bodies of the deceased have been transferred to Christchurch and added, "The consul general in Christchurch is assisting with the matter, I understand," reports Newstalk ZB.

The family was returning home after attending a loved one's funeral in Gore when their Toyota Hiace mini-van collided with the truck at around 7:30 am. As per The New Zealand Herald, the names of the family members who died in the crash are Paul and Diseree Brown, 61 and 48, their son Mark, 14, Diseree's sister Divine Dolar, 56, and Divine's daughter Flordeliza Dolar, 19. Two of Diseree's sons, Pedro Clariman, 26, and Luie Lagud, 16, survived, but the latter was in a coma and is undergoing surgery after suffering significant injuries to his spine and head.

"It's just shocking, to happen that fast. In a blink of an eye, it's all gone." 21-year-old David Lagud told the portal. Pedro, who was reportedly asleep at the time of the crash, is heartbroken after losing his partner and child. "He was devastated, he was crying a lot. Both of his loves are gone. They were so happy. They had good memories before they died," Lagud added.

"It is a real shock because of the tragedy of our family. They need support from us right now, especially in this hard time, because the partner and the daughter is gone and my mum and my aunty, all of them are gone. It's very hard for my older brothers and my younger brothers also, who are in grief right now," said Princess Clariman, a family member.