A Samoan national was identified as one of the two people who were found dead after a car was discovered upside down in a stream in rural Wellington, New Zealand. 

The incident took place on Makara Beach Road, in the coastal area of Makara, on 25 March. According to reports, 21-year-old Folesi Luana Tafili lost her life in the crash.

Police, alongside Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) and Wellington Free Ambulance, responded to the scene and found a partially submerged vehicle in a stream along the narrow and winding road connecting Karori to Makara Beach.

FENZ shift manager Alex Norris told local media that crews arrived to find the car overturned in the water. The two bodies were located by police upon arrival.

A resident, who asked not to be named, said the crash site was visible from their home. They reported seeing multiple emergency vehicles, including at least four police cars, two ambulances, and a fire appliance. A white sheet was also seen lying out near the scene.

“Usually you hear stuff at night, but we didn’t hear anything out of the ordinary,” the resident told local media. They added that the stretch of road is known among locals as a dangerous area.

“There’s about a two- to three-metre drop from the road down to the stream. I’ve seen crashes and near-misses there before. People are really shocked this morning.”

The road runs alongside a small stream bordered by wire fencing, creating a hazardous environment for drivers.

Local business owner Cody Stephens said he noticed emergency vehicles heading toward the beach area earlier in the morning.