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WELLINGTON, New Zealand – The 20-year-old Boston University student who was driving aminivan that crashed on a rural New Zealand road earlier thismonth, killing three of his classmates, has spoken out about thepain of losing his best friend. At a memorial service attended by about 200 people Saturday eveningin Auckland, the driver, Stephen Houseman, of Massapequa, New York,was supported and hugged throughout by his parents and Boston U.friends. The service came a day after Houseman made his first courtappearance in Auckland after being charged by New Zealandauthorities with seven counts of careless driving causing injury ordeath. Each of the charges carries a maximum jail term of threemonths. Houseman was one of 26 Boston University students studying thissemester in New Zealand and Australia who were traveling in threeminivans on May 12 to a well-known volcanic crater hike when one ofthe minivans rolled over. Those killed in the crash were Austin Brashears, of HuntingtonBeach, California; Daniela Lekhno, of Manalapan, New Jersey, andRoch Jauberty, of Paris, France. Houseman was injured in the crash and appeared in court with hisarm in a sling. Fairfax Media reported that during the service Saturday at AucklandUniversity's Maclaurin Chapel, Houseman said Brashears had becomehis best friend after the two students met at the airport on theirway to New Zealand. They were excited about walking the Tongariro Crossing and seeingthe peak they called "Mount Doom," after scenes from the Lord ofthe Rings movies were shot there, Houseman said at the service. "Every memory I have associated with New Zealand, Austin is rightthere. Kayaking the Milford Sounds, zorbing, whitewater rafting andsand-boarding. He was my pal, my confidante." Houseman recalled the pair sharing a love of Disney songs and HarryPotter, Fairfax Media reported. "I thought I was the only guy who knew the words to almost everyDisney classic song but Austin impressed me by knowing more." "Austin was my best friend. He still is my best friend, and he willalways be my best friend. I want you to know if I have a son, Iwill name him after you. And if my wife disagrees, I will get a newwife. I love you so much," he said at the service, Fairfaxreported. Houseman and four other students were injured in the crash. Allhave since been released from local hospitals except Meg Theriault,21, who remains in critical condition at Waikato Hospital. The hospital reported Sunday that Theriault was breathing on herown for the first time since the crash after doctors removed abreathing tube Friday. Parents Todd and Deb Theriault, of Boston, said their daughter is afighter and her progress is heartening, according to a statementreleased by the hospital. The couple said they have also met withHouseman's parents. "We feel their pain and he now has a journey of recovery much likeour daughter does," the Theriaults said in the statement. "Weunderstand there needs to be a court process and we support it. "But that could have been any one of our kids at the wheel. Thiswas an accident — all our kids were pursuing their dream.Nobody was intentionally doing anything that would harm anyone,"they said. In a statement Friday, police inspector Kevin Taylor said chargingHouseman "is not a decision taken lightly and we understand thetragedy will already have had a significant impact on this youngman. However, we are faced with a situation where three people havedied and others are seriously injured and we must apply the law inan objective and dispassionate way." Police said earlier that the single-vehicle wreck appeared to occurafter the minivan drifted to the side of the road. The driver triedto correct his course, and the minivan then rolled over severaltimes. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as Shaggy Pile Rug Manufacturer , Silky Shaggy Rug for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Contemporary Shaggy Rug.
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