The family of a promising rugby league tag player killed after being hit by a car outside a party in Auckland has a message for other families.
A car hit 19-year-old Xavier Browne outside a party in Half Moon Bay on July 7, leaving him on life support for four days before it was eventually turned off.
His father, Kutz Browne, says he believes the driver did a burnout, crossed the centre line and hit his son who was standing beside his own vehicle.
Now he wants young drivers to think about their responsibilities before getting behind the wheel.
"You'll be carrying that guilt on your shoulders for the rest of your life and you can, but someone's kid, you know - you can't replace that person again," he says. "Get dropped off, get picked up, be safe."
Xavier, who played for the New Zealand tag under-20s team, was described by his brother, Liam Prasad, as a talented young man who enjoyed his sports and kapa haka.
While the driver stopped at the scene and has since been interviewed by police, they received no complaints in relation to the party.
No one has been arrested in relation to the crash, but investigations are on-going.
Newshub.
