Two Victorian women killed in horror crash in New Zealand
A trip to New Zealand to celebrate their wedding anniversary has ended in tragedy for two Victorian women. The McCrossins have been remembered as a “beautiful couple” after they were killed in a head-on collision with a freight truck.
VIC News
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A “beautiful” couple who died in a tragic head-on collision with a freight truck in New Zealand has been remembered by their niece as “soulmates”.
Fox McCrossin, 58, and her 56-year-old wife, Joan McCrossin, were killed in a horrific crash with a truck on Sunday.
Fox’s niece, Mel Simpson, said her aunt married the love of her life, Jo, in New Zealand five years ago, and that the couple was looking forward to celebrating their wedding anniversary.
The pair had been together for more than 20 years.
“The family are all in shock,” Ms Simpson told the Herald Sun. “The two women are just beautiful, gorgeous souls like any aunties.
“They have loads of family, loads of friends.”
It is understood the pair was on their way to celebrate their wedding anniversary in Rakaia, about 57km south of Christchurch.
Fox worked at Australia Post’s distribution centre, while Jo was a health and safety officer.
The pair lived in Monbulk and owned a few cats together.
“They are certainly cat lovers,” niece Mel said.
“We are just devastated. What makes it worse, it was their anniversary. Now the date is a tragic date.
“We take comfort they were together.”
The two families are working out the logistics of getting their loved ones’ bodies back home to Melbourne.
“They were very much soulmates, together for more than 20 years,” Ms Simpson said.
“They are just beautiful women, you could always pick up the phone and talk to them for hours. They were always there for anybody.”
An investigation into the circumstances of the crash continues.
News outlet Stuff reported the women’s car veered across the road and into the path of the truck at a bend near Rakaia.
The truck driver was lucky to escape injury, despite his vehicle skidding through a fence on a grass verge, and tipping on to its side on railway tracks.
His company, TIL Freight South Island, said the man was traumatised and was receiving counselling.
A car travelling behind the women was also caught up in the crash, leaving the occupants with minor injuries, while another car further back was struck by debris.
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Ambulance staff treated people at the scene for minor bruising but none needed to be taken to hospital.
Police acting area commander for rural Canterbury Natasha Rodley is quoted in the report, saying it was not certain what had caused the women’s car to cross over the road’s central line.