Posted on 07/07/2006 12:24:21 PM PDT by martin_fierro
Tonga prince, wife die in Calif. crash
By TERENCE CHEA, Associated Press Writer Fri Jul 7, 11:34 AM ET
SAN FRANCISCO - A Tongan prince known for promoting political reform in his South Pacific island nation died along with his wife in a crash with a teenager's car, authorities said.
Prince Tu'ipelehake, 56, Princess Kaimana, 46, and their driver died Wednesday night, according to Senter Uhilamoelangi, a distant relative and longtime friend of the prince.
The 18-year-old driver who hit their sport utility vehicle was traveling as fast as 100 mph in Menlo Park, about 30 miles south of San Francisco, highway patrol Officer Ricky Franklin said. The woman survived the crash and faced arraignment Friday.
Tu'ipelehake, a nephew of King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV who led a national committee studying democratic reforms, owned a mansion in Hillsborough, about 15 miles south of San Francisco.
He and his wife had come to the area earlier this week to discuss politics with members of the region's Tongan community, said Uhilamoelangi, who lives in East Palo Alto and helped arrange the visit.
"His voice we'll never hear again, but his legacy is going to live on," Uhilamoelangi said.
'Akilisi Pohiva, a democracy movement leader in the Tongan capital of Nuku'alofa, called the deaths "a great loss to the country."
"People are very much concerned, especially the people who are pushing for change," Pohiva said.
San Mateo County Coroner Robert Foucrault confirmed that two members of Tonga's royal family died in the crash, but he would not release their names until the Tongan government made an official announcement.
Franklin said Edith Delgado was trying to pass the couple's SUV when her car slammed into it, causing it to swerve across several lanes before tumbling to a stop on its roof.
Delgado, of Redwood City, was to be arraigned in San Mateo County Superior Court on charges of vehicular manslaughter and engaging in a speed contest, authorities said. She was being held in lieu of $300,000 bail.
The deaths stunned the Tongan community, which numbers about 37,000 in the United States, including 15,000 in California, according to the 2000 Census.
The prince had been scheduled to speak Thursday at a Tongan church in San Bruno, and the event became a memorial service. The prince's sister, Princess Mele Siuilikutapu Kalaniuvalu Fotofili, sat on the stage crying throughout the service.
"He tried to keep the connection with the Tongan people in America," said the Rev. Kalatini Ahio.
Now the last monarchy in the Pacific, Tonga has been a Polynesian kingdom and was a protectorate of Britain until it acquired independence in 1970.
The 170-island archipelago, about halfway between Australia and Tahiti, has a population of about 108,000 and an economy dependent on pumpkin and vanilla exports, fishing, foreign aid and remittances from Tongans abroad.
___
Associated Press Writer Louise Chu in San Bruno, Calif., contributed to this report.
Because it goes to show that some people here think that Hispanic=Illegal no matter what. As a comment on another thread made it so clear, some of those same people want to expel anyone who is of Hispanic heritage, even those who's families have lived in the United States for hundreds of years.
What a sad, and avoidable, loss of life. The reckless, selfish driver walks away unharmed and the innocent parties are killed.
Very sad, and very ironic. Coming from a little island paradise like Tonga to be virtually murdered by an irresponsible American teen.
Good thing Tonga has no nuclear-warheaded rockets. CA would be in big trouble.
Such a senseless tragedy! My thoughts & prayers are with the Tongans.
Was Edith Delgado here legally?
Euless, Texas, right between Dallas and Ft. Worth is home to a large community from Tonga. I don't know why Tongans would live so far from the ocean in the middle of Texas.
There was once a bagel bakery here that was owned by an Irishman and the bakers were Tongans. So we had Jewish food, made by Tongans, supervised by an Irish guy in the middle of Texas. There's your "multiculturalism" for you. Go figure.
This was on the local news yesterday morning, (KGO, I think) and reports stated that the deceased were all wearing their seatbelts.
Could have been worse..... "Bush's fault!"
Prince Tu'ipelehake never reached the popularity of his cousin, the Prince of Thonga.
They might have. It looks like the roll bars pretty well worked.
It's experience that matters, and the younger you start driving the better. It's INSANE how they keep raising the driving age - that will only make things worse.
But you may be right.....her family may not be the in the least concerns for her safety, her family is probably innocent of raising this murderous idiot...just a typical ignorant couple of copulaters and populaters..
Semper Fi
Or the victims' nationality.
Oh hell, why report anything? Someone's bound to be offended.
That section of 101 has so many accidents. I avoid it like the plague.
Too bad for the Tonga Prince and Princess.
(snip)Edith Delgado was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and speeding, authorities said. She was being held at the women's jail in Redwood City in lieu of $300,000 bail.
Franklin said Delgado had just received her driver's license in February.
Witnesses told authorities they saw a 1998 white Ford Mustang racing a black Cadillac Escalade at speeds of 85 mph to 100 mph just before the crash, reported at about 9 p.m. Wednesday on the highway north of Willow Road.
In an attempt to pass the Escalade on the right, the Mustang hit the driver's side of the Explorer, sending it careening out of control.
The Explorer flipped several times and came to rest on its roof on the right shoulder of the highway.
All three in the Explorer were killed, even though they were wearing seat belts, authorities said.
I just noticed, I'm wearing the Tongan tank top he bought me there!
You and Calex59 need to learn how to read for COMPREHENSION...
Government Skooled?
The "threat" was not mine...
The "advice" was mine...
Pull your heads out of dark orifices -- it's not healthy.
Semper Fi
May they rest in peace. they look like good people.........
Exactly my point...
God love em, they're not a people to mess with....
Here in California, we are blessed with a significant number of Tongans -- considering their nation Island and population is so tiny....
Semper Fi
I served with some Samoans in the 70's. If Tongans are anything like Samoans, I'd be watching my back.........
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