A newly married couple who had just finished celebrating Diwali were among three family members killed when their car crashed into a BurgerFuel restaurant in South Auckland on Sunday night.
The trio died when their car lost control at a roundabout on Great South Rd in Takanini before crashing into the restaurant at about 10.15pm.
The victims were Indian nationals from Punjab who had been attending Diwali celebrations at a Sikh temple in Manurewa, according to Daljit Singh, president of the Central Sikh Association and Supreme Sikh Society.
Singh told 1News the crash happened just minutes after they left the temple.
The trio’s vehicle struck a BurgerFuel restaurant in Takanini. (Source: 1News)
The three victims – aged 29, 33 and 38 – had been living together in Auckland.
The driver had spent about seven years building a life in New Zealand and ran his own business.
His wife had arrived in the country only a few months ago, after the pair married earlier this year.
"It's a huge tragedy for the community," Singh said.
Singh said friends became concerned when the driver failed to turn up for work on Monday morning.
Relatives in India have since been informed of the deaths, with community leaders now working to return the victims' bodies home.
"They are in great shock," Singh said.
"They're asking so many questions which we don't have an answer to at this stage."
The community is planning a Givealittle fundraiser to help cover repatriation costs, estimated to be up to $50,000.
Police have yet to formally identify the victims, with the process expected to take some time.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
No one inside the BurgerFuel restaurant was injured.
A karakia is due to be held at the crash site on Monday, with members of the Sikh community invited to attend.
Singh said the tragedy had sent shockwaves through Auckland's close-knit Punjabi community, where many knew the victims personally.
"They don't have family here in New Zealand, but they have a wider family of friends," he said.
"It's a very tight community. People know immediately where they came from, who they are."
Singh said many friends had been left in tears as they struggled to comprehend the loss.
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