Man’s disgusting act after four teens die in horror car crash

Shortly after a truck fatally collided with a car carrying four teenagers, one man parked 10m away did the unthinkable.

The fatal car crash on New Zealand’s South Island claimed four lives. Picture: 1News.

A man who live-streamed the graphic aftermath of the Invercargill crash on New Zealand’s South Island, which claimed the lives of four teens only removed the footage when police stepped in.

The crash claimed the lives of Konnor Steele, Indaka Rouse, Kyah Kennedy, all 16 and of Bluff, and 17-year-old O Maruhuatau Otuwhare Tawhai, of Invercargill, when the Ford Ranger they were in collided with a truck on Queens Drive on Friday.

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Emergency services were seen attending the horrific incident. Picture: 1News.

As emergency services rushed to the scene a man, who parked 10m away from the wreckage, took out his mobile phone and began to live-stream to Facebook, the Otago Daily Times reports.

The resulting footage showed him first observing before he became involved in efforts to get inside the damaged vehicle.

He told the Otago Daily Times he had been unaware of the severity of the crash and tucked the phone in his pocket to continue filming, capturing harrowing images of the victims.

The video remained online until early the following day.

The witness said he eventually deleted it “to respect the families and those young kids” but later admitted it had been removed at the request of police.

O Maruhuatau Otuwhare Tawhai and Kyah Kennedy were killed in the car crash (L-R) Picture: 1News.

The crash also claimed the lives of Konnor Steele and Indaka Rouse (L-R). Picture: 1News.

A former Invercargill resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said she came across the disturbing film on the man’s Facebook profile while reading the comments attached to an online news report.

“I just felt sick … It’s such a massive breach of privacy,” she said. “I just think it’s the lowest of the low.”

She called police at 11pm and by the time she got off the phone, the post had received more than 200 views, she said.

A police spokeswoman said a senior officer contacted the man behind the footage and received confirmation it had been taken down a few hours later.

But it would appear it was too late for at least one person connected to the victims.

The filmer, who the Otago Daily Times chose not to name, said he was contacted by a man online who was “going nuts”.

“I just apologised and said there was no intention to disrespect the family,” he said.

Bluff Community Board chairman Raymond Fife, speaking on behalf of the community, said he was “stunned” to hear of the man’s online exploits.

“People need to realise they’ve got to show a bit of respect out there at any crash site,” he

said. “I’m glad [police] jumped on it quickly.”

Invercargill crash witness: 'I didn't sleep last night, I keep seeing their faces' https://t.co/DtN8HhQyr9pic.twitter.com/HtRc1cQbE7

— nzherald (@nzherald) April 23, 2022

While concerned about the dissemination of such graphic images, police said the man had

not committed a crime and thus could not be charged.

Christchurch lawyer Kathryn Dalziel agreed.

While the video may have been traumatic if viewed by the family members of the teens, she said it could not be prosecuted under the Harmful Digital Communications Act since it required proof of an intent to cause harm.

Rather, it was more likely a breach of the tort of privacy, Ms Dalziel said.

While the original video had been removed from online there remained the potential it had been uploaded by others.

“We urge anyone who has shared it since it was originally posted to delete it immediately,”

police said.

This article originally appeared on the New Zealand Herald and has been republished with permission