A toddler who will grow up without his mother, a sister who struggles to take photos of her kids because she can no longer send them to their aunt, and a young man with no memory of how he ended up near death on the side of the road. 

A string of deadly hit-and-run incidents in the lower North Island have left grieving families and badly injured victims trying to put the pieces of their lives back together - though some feel they may never be able to. 

With five serious occurrences over as many months, the impact of these incidents has sent shock waves through the communities involved. 

The Herald looks at the human cost of these cases, and what stage each is at. 

Cable St, Wellington, June 18 

Cass Maguire died on July 5, several weeks after being critically injured in a hit-and-run on Cable St, Wellington. 

Police were called to Cable St near Te Papa in the early hours of June 18 following reports a car had hit two pedestrians shortly after midnight. Both were taken to hospital, one in a serious condition and one critical.  

Jason Tuitama, 24, faces multiple charges over the incident, including failing to stop after a crash, driving while suspended, drink driving causing injury and failing to stop for police. He is accused of having a breath-alcohol level of 993mcg, nearly four times over the legal limit of 250mcg.  

Tuitama was later charged with manslaughter after one of his victims, Wellington woman Cass Maguire, died in hospital three weeks after the crash.  

Maguire, a young mother, died on July 5. She was a former employee at the Ministry of Health and also ran a small business, Antipodhe Art, creating art based on clients’ photographs.  

Online tributes described her as “a gem of a lady” with “a good and kind heart and soul”.  

In a message to Maguire’s young child, one friend said “your mum was beautiful, caring, funny, and touched many lives. 

“Our prayers go out to her amazing partner, beautiful baby boy and all her family and friends,” another said. 

“We will always remember your gorgeous smile, love for your boys and kind, caring nature.” 

Tuitama’s court case is ongoing. 

State Highway 2, Greytown, June 25 

William Newton was found critically injured on the road, with no memory of what happened. 

The identity of a driver who left a young man for dead on a Wairarapa road is still unknown, with the victim as much in the dark as anyone.  

William Newtown was found critically injured on State Highway 2 near Greytown on the morning of June 25, and was airlifted to hospital. 

His uncle, Gary Hewson, said police told him and his family the most likely scenario was that the 24-year-old was struck in a hit-and-run. 

“There’s one part of me that hopes it happened and the person doesn’t know, it’s been a complete accident. Maybe it’s a larger vehicle and they didn’t feel anything,” said Hewson. 

“The thought that someone’s just left him on the side of the road on purpose ... if that is the case, I would say to them, they’re probably feeling awful right now and the only way they’re going to navigate that is to stick up their hand and contact the police and work their way through this.” 

William Newton's family said police told them the most likely case was that he had been injured in a hit-and-run. 

Hewson said someone had to know something about what led to his nephew being injured and hoped they would come forward soon. 

Newton suffered a badly broken arm in several places, broken ribs and teeth as well as other leg, ankle and facial injuries. 

Hewson said the family didn’t know what led to the accident, and added that Newton had no memory of the evening. 

Police asked anyone with information on his movements through Greytown and the incident to call 105 and quote the file number 230625/2031, or make a report online using “Update Report”. 

Pomare station, Lower Hutt, August 1 

Megan Finlayson, 27, died outside the Pomare train station in Lower Hutt after being hit by Chad Clark. 

Chad Reuben Arene Clark had been wildly overtaking cars on the morning of August 1 when he hit and killed a young Stokes Valley woman. Clark was driving up to 45km/h higher than the speed limit as he tore up the wrong side of the road, according to the summary of facts. 

Megan Finlayson, 27, was crossing the road by Pomare Station, Lower Hutt, when Clark hit her at an estimated speed of 96-102km/h, making no effort to swerve or brake. He hit Finlayson and sent her into the air and on to parked cars. She landed about 15m away from where he hit her.  

Meanwhile, Clark fled the scene without stopping, continuing to drive dangerously, eventually stopping to take off his licence plates. He was later found by police halfway up the country, in Hunterville. 

“Megan’s death by Chad Clark’s dangerous driving is society’s loss,” said her father in court, who said Finlayson was “modest, smiling, loving and intelligent”. 

He said he thought of her “horrific” death every night and on bad days. 

“This nightmare will be with me for the rest of my life. 

Chad Reuben Arene Clark appears by AVL in the Wellington District Court for sentencing for a fatal hit-and-run. Photo / Melissa Nightingale 

“I will not see Megan blossom into the wonderful woman she would have been.” 

Clark, who has previous convictions, pleaded guilty at an early stage in his court case, and was sentenced on November 2. 

Judge Ian Mell sentenced him to five years and three months in prison. The sentence covers the hit-and-run, possession of weapons, ammunition and drugs, and charges relating to the Parliament occupation. 

Clark is also disqualified from driving for four years, starting from May 2025. 

Cornfoot St, Whanganui, November 11 

John Major Taurua known as Major, was badly injured in a hit-and-run in Whanganui. 

A 6-year-old boy had to be put in an induced coma earlier this month after being hit by a car while out with his young siblings. 

John Major Taurua-McKay - known as Major - was earlier in an induced coma at Starship Children’s Hospital with multiple injuries, including multiple skull fractures and broken ribs. 

He was struck by a car as he crossed the road on the way home from his local park in Castlecliff, Whanganui. He was with his four older brothers, one of them a 16-year-old, around 7.30pm on November 11. 

Major’s uncle - also John Taurua - said a bystander was able to help the distraught boys and call 111. 

“Baby was out cold and it wasn’t a good situation but luckily someone was able to get help for them,” Taurua said. 

Major was rushed to Whanganui Hospital and was then transferred to Starship, where he went into surgery. 

Taurua said he had a brain injury, multiple skull fractures and six broken ribs. 

Major, 6, was put into an induced coma after the crash. 

He said the little boy, who was named after him, was “a tough nut” and “a little fighter”. 

A family member had set up a Givealittle page to help with costs for Major’s mother to be with him in Auckland, rehabilitation costs, and for counselling for the brothers with him when he was hit.  

The driver of the car believed to be involved in the incident has been located by police. Police are still interested in CCTV footage of the hatchback-sized, light blue-coloured car in the area or surrounding streets, including Cornfoot St, Manuka St and Poulson St.  

If anyone has any more information that can assist police in th eir ongoing investigation, please contact police via 105 and quote reference number 231112/8264. 

Naenae Rd, Lower Hutt, November 16 

The vehicle involved is a dark-grey Mazda 6 sedan and was stolen from an address in Belmont in the early hours of the morning. Photo / Police 

Anita Rani was killed last week after being hit by a stolen car that had been seen driving erratically before and after the crash. 

The 62-year-old, named this morning by police, died at the scene on Naenae Rd, Lower Hutt, after being hit at 5.46am on November 16. 

Police have revealed the car involved was a dark grey Mazda 6 sedan that was stolen from an address in Belmont in the early hours of the morning. 

It was found on Waddington Drive, Naenae, at 12.20pm. 

Detective Inspector Haley Ryan urged the driver to come forward and report to police. 

“The driver of that vehicle will know they have hit a person and, in all likelihood, they will be panicking right now. 

“I urge the driver or any occupant of that vehicle to come forward and speak to us, as we want to understand the events that have led to this tragedy.” 

Residents living on the street described hearing a bang and screaming, and finding the woman’s body on the street covered in a blanket. 

Police investigate the scene of the hit and run on Naenae Rd. Photo / Mark Mitchell 

One of the first people on the scene described using a blanket from her apartment to cover Rani’s body, and said she was in shock after the incident. 

Another neighbour who did not wish to be named told the Herald she had heard a “thud and a fast car” in the early hours of the morning. 

“I didn’t think too much of it because we have a few fast cars through here and I just thought they’d hit a rubbish bin or something.” 

Once she went to her gate to check out what had happened, she saw the body lying in the road and police swarming the area. 

“A few of the neighbours were out on the street and watching, but it’s one of those things where you don’t feel like hanging around because the person is deceased. 

“It’s grim. It’s just sobering. I just keep thinking there’s a family that’s been affected.”  

Police yesterday revealed two areas of interest in the case - the suburb of Belmont, where the car was stolen from between 1 and 3am, and Wainuiomata, where the car is believed to have been between 3am and the time of the crash. 

Anyone with CCTV footage or sightings of the car in those areas at the above times is urged to contact police on 105, quoting file number 231116/3474. 

Melissa Nightingale is a Wellington-based reporter who covers crime, justice and news in the capital. She joined the Herald in 2016 and has worked as a journalist for 10 years.