Man only removed graphic footage of Invercargill car crash that killed four teenagers once police intervened

A man who live-streamed the graphic aftermath of the Invercargill crash which claimed the lives of four teens only removed the footage when police stepped in.

The crash claimed the lives of Konnor Steele, Indaka Rouse, Kyah Kennedy, all 16 and of Bluff, and 17-year-old O Maruhuatau Otuwhare Tawhai, of Invercargill, when the Ford Ranger they were in collided with a truck on Queens Drive on Friday.

As emergency services rushed to the scene a man, who parked 10m away from the wreckage, took out his cellphone and began to live-stream to Facebook.

The resulting footage showed him first observing before he became involved in efforts to get inside the damaged vehicle.

He told the Otago Daily Times he had been unaware of the severity of the crash and tucked the phone in his pocket to continue filming, capturing harrowing images of the victims.

The video remained online until early the following day.

The witness said he eventually deleted it “to respect the families and those young kids” but later admitted it had been removed at the request of police.

A former Invercargill resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said she came across the disturbing film on the man’s Facebook profile while reading the comments attached to an online news report.

“I just felt sick …It’s such a massive breach of privacy,” she said. “I just think it’s the lowest of the low.”

She called police at 11pm and by the time she got off the phone, the post had received more than 200 views, she said.

A police spokeswoman said a senior officer contacted the man behind the footage and received confirmation it had been taken down a few hours later.

But it would appear it was too late for at least one person connected to the victims.

The filmer, who the ODT chose not to name, said he was contacted by a man online who was “going nuts”.

“I just apologised and said there was no intention to disrespect the family,” he said.

Bluff Community Board chairman Raymond Fife, speaking on behalf of the community, said he was “stunned” to hear of the man’s online exploits.

“People need to realise they’ve got to show a bit of respect out there at any crash site,” he
said. “I’m glad [police] jumped on it quickly.”

While concerned about the dissemination of such graphic images, police said the man had
not committed a crime and thus could not be charged.

Christchurch lawyer Kathryn Dalziel agreed.

While the video may have been traumatic if viewed by the family members of the teens, she said it could not be prosecuted under the Harmful Digital Communications Act since it required proof of an intent to cause harm.

Rather, it was more likely a breach of the tort of privacy, Dalziel said.

While the original video had been removed from online there remained the potential it had been uploaded by others.

“We urge anyone who has shared it since it was originally posted to delete it immediately,”
police said.

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