Plea to death crash driver

Police are calling for the driver of a car that allegedly struck and killed an 18-year-old South Korean student queuing for concert tickets in Whangarei to hand themselves in.


Sang Je Lee, who was in his third year of study at Whangarei's Pompallier College, had been queuing with friends for tickets to the coming Red Hot Chili Peppers concerts in Auckland when he was struck by a car about 3.25am yesterday while lying in the car park next to the Rebel Sports complex.

Detective Shane Pilmer, of Whangarei, said it was not known how Mr Lee had come to be lying in the middle of the car park, but said it may have been something as innocent as "looking at the stars".

He urged the driver of the car and their passenger to come forward.

"They may have panicked and thought the best action was to take flight ... but they've had time to think about it now."

Though there were up to 30 fans queuing for tickets at the time, none of those spoken to saw Mr Lee being run over, Mr Pilmer said.

"They heard a loud bang, which was the incident between the victim and the vehicle ... then a screech of tyres".

A grey or gun-metal grey Nissan Skyline was then seen leaving the car park at high speed, he said.

Fans raced to Mr Lee's aid and an ambulance was called, but he died in Whangarei Hospital soon after 9.30am.

Preliminary autopsy results showed that he died of shock, from massive internal bleeding to his injured spleen, liver and lungs. He was also thought to have suffered multiple broken bones.

The incident had shocked the American rock band, a representative said. "The band's hearts and prayers are with the family at this sad time."

The band's New Zealand and Australian tour promoter, Michael Coppel, also expressed his sympathy to the parents, family and friends of the young Northland fan.

Mr Lee had been living with relatives in Whangarei while completing his secondary school education. His parents, who live in South Korea, had been told of his death and were on their way to New Zealand, Mr Pilmer said.

Sang Je, was an outgoing boy and a thriving student at Pompallier Catholic College, his host father Byung Kuoog Kim told the New Zealand Herald.

He said Sang Je had been part of his family, had enjoyed golf, soccer and hockey, and had excelled in chemistry.

Sang Je's mother had given her only child money for the Auckland concert ticket as a present for his 19th birthday.

Rebel Sports' Whangarei manager, Frazer Hoani, said that despite the tragedy, fans continued to queue outside and ticket sales went ahead as planned when the store opened.

Mr Hoani said he did not realise how serious the incident was till late in the morning.

Tickets to the Red Hot Chili Pepper's two concerts - on April 21 and 22 at Auckland's Vector Arena - sold out in just 20 minutes, with 80 per cent sold over the internet.

SHOCKED: The Red Hot Chili Peppers have sent their condolences to the family of a Kiwi fan who was killed in a hit-and-run accident while waiting for tickets to the band's upcoming shows in April.