Last updated 16:07, June 4 2018
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Nicola Anne Murphy died in a crash near Palmerston North on Sunday.
Nicola Anne Murphy died in a crash near Palmerston North on Sunday.
A woman killed in a car crash near Palmerston North was on her way to a family day out.
Now, her family are struggling to cope with their loss.
Nicola Anne Murphy, of Palmerston North, died when two cars crashed on a one-way bridge on Turitea Rd, on the outskirts of the city, on Sunday morning. Murphy was the driver of one of the cars and died in hospital on Sunday.
The 28-year-old recently graduated nurse had dreams of working at Palmerston North Hospital and was excited about a two-month trip through the UK and Europe.
Nicole's brother Simon Murphy said his sister was "one of the sweetest people you'd meet – she was always smiling".
Nicola Murphy was looking forward to a two-month trip to Europe and the UK.
On Sunday, she was on her way to meet her family for a day out.
"No-one can quite believe this has happened. It's such a preventable and pointless thing, and very difficult to process."
Family was the most important thing to his sister, Simon Murphy said.
"Family always came first.
"She was the middle of five siblings and was an awesome aunty to her niece and nephews."
Nicola Murphy had just graduated as a nurse and was almost finished her entrance to practice year at the star 4 ward in Levin.
Her brother said she was hoping to get a job in Palmerston North Hospital next year so she could be closer to her family.
Having always wanted to travel, she had booked tickets for a two-month trip around the UK and Europe, and was so excited about it, Simon Murphy said.
"She was also very involved in the Pokemon Go community in Palmerston North and had made a lot of great friends through the game."
"Most weekends Nicola, my wife and I, and often our mum, would head out to play PoGo and catch up with everyone from the community."
After the crash residents of the rural Palmerston North road said how they wanted safety improvements to that area.
Turitea Rd residents Craig Giles and Jason Harley both live next to the bridge and saw the aftermath of the crash. They have both seen many accidents or near misses on the bridge.
Residents who live near the bridge say there are many near misses there.
Harley said he thought a warning sign would be a good improvement. The speed limit on Turitea Rd is 80kmh.
This fatal crash is the second within a week on the outskirts of Palmerston North.
A funeral was held on Saturday for Meadow James, 12, who was a passenger in a stolen car that crashed in a police chase near Longburn last Monday.
The funeral for Ihaia McPhee-Maxwell, 15, the driver of that car fleeing police, was held on Friday.
The police serious crash unit is investigating.