14 May 2012

Parents of critically injured student arrive in NZ

1:39 pm on 14 May 2012

The parents of an American exchange student critically injured in a fatal crash on Saturday have arrived in New Zealand to be with their daughter.

Eight American students, most from Boston University in their early 20s, were travelling in convoy with another vehicle of students to the Tongariro Crossing when their van rolled on gravel on State Highway 46, south of the Tongariro National Park, about 7.30am on Saturday.

Margaret Theriault.

Margaret Theriault. Photo: SUPPLIED

Daniela Rosanna Lekhno, Roch Jauberty and Austin Brashears were killed in the crash.

Margaret Theriault, 21, suffered a serious head injury, a broken right arm and grazing to her body. She remains in a critical condition in Waikato Hospital on Monday.

Two other women are in a stable condition in Rotorua Hospital, while two other people have been treated and discharged.

On Monday, Todd and Deb Theriault from Boston released a statement, saying their thoughts and prayers are with those families who lost loved-ones in the accident.

The couple say they are grateful their daughter is in a place where there is so much love, care and attention and that she is in good hands.

They say they will stay to support Margaret for as long as it takes.