A damn shame. Rest in peace.
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.
A damn shame. Rest in peace.
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Does it matter that the teenager driving is Hispanic?
Agreed.
Whether on 101 or 280 that is too dang fast for a high traffic area and I hope they throw the book at this reckless driver.
Well that didn't take long.
If she was drag racing I hope they nail everyone involved in the race.
Obviously to certain types of people it does. Guaranteed there are those who are on their knees praying for the woman to be an illegal alien.
This girl is 18, an adult in CA. Just how is her family responsible for this accident and why should they be afraid?
Any info on Delgado's immigration status?
Some people just like to make empty threats.
That last sentence, especially the bolded part, makes me think they died because they were thrown around in the vehicle after the collision, indicating that they weren't wearing their seat belts. The only person in Princess Di's vehicle who survived was the young body guard, who was wearing his seat belt.
In short, it doesn't matter how well built your vehicle is, to avoid the frequently fatal internal collision that often happens after the external collision, the best thing each of us can do is wear his or her seat belt at all times.
I think someone's aiming for the "illegal" angle, which they haven't said one way or the other (as far as I know).
In strict language, you are very right that it doesn't matter.
Wasn't this the surfer dude on Gilligan's Island?
I used to lifeguard a neighborhood pool in poor east side region of San Jose. There was a small community of well behaved & friendly Samoans/Tongans there that I very quickly noticed none of the other less well-behaved locals messed with.
Looks like we have at least two already.
Just as likely there are others here praying she isn't. So what.
Oh, no. Someone was going for the Ageist angle.
Because the little snookums is a dewy 18, see. How is that relevant.
You clowns really gotta be more selective in your Reactionaryism.
I don't know, does it?
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