New Zealand 11-year-old Moareen Rameka was playing with her friends on a rail-bridge in Ngāruawāhia on Sunday when the group heard a train coming from the south. The children managed to run to safety, but Moareen tragically did not make it and was fatally hit, Stuff NZ reports.
“They were seen running north, trying to get off the tracks and the young girl hasn’t made it in time and was struck by the train,” Western Waikato police area prevention manager Senior Sergeant Dave Hall explained.
Tributes have poured in for Moareen and her family after the devastating accident. A crowdfunding page created to pay for the funeral and other costs bears the touching message: “Gone but never forgotten, will forever be in our Hearts”.
“On the 18th March 2018 6:00pm Moareen Rameka aged 11 was struck by a train in Ngāruawāhia taken from her beloved family, mother father grandmother her 11 siblings cousins and much more,” her older sister, Joanna Lines, wrote on the page.
“The family is in devastation as her death was such a shock to us all.
“I’ve created this page on behalf of my family and baby sister to help them with anything in need. Anything will be a blessing towards this tragedy.”
Another message reads: “I love you so much Moareen Rameka words can’t describe how lost I am to here this tonight. Never in my wildest dreams would I ever have expected him to need a beautiful soul like you so early in your life.”
As 7 News reports, the railway bridge has been a problem spot in the area with many recorded near-misses. In 2002, a 9-year-old boy lost his life after he lost his footing on the bridge and was hit by a train.
You can donate to Moareen Rameka’s Give A Little page here.
