- Apr 14, 2001
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Tongan Royal Family Members Killed in Crash
By TERENCE CHEA, AP
SAN FRANCISCO (July 7) - A prince from the South Pacific island nation of Tonga who was known to his people as a voice for political reforms died along with his wife when a teenager crashed into their sport utility vehicle, authorities said.
Prince Tu'ipelehake, 56, and Princess Kaimana, 46, were killed in the crash Wednesday night, according to Senter Uhilamoelangi, a distant relative and longtime friend of the prince.
"His voice we'll never hear again, but his legacy is going to live on," said Uhilamoelangi, a Tonga native and East Palo Alto resident.
He said the couple had arrived in the area earlier this week to discuss political reforms with members of the region's Tongan community. Uhilamoelangi helped arrange the visit.
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.
Tu'ipelehake, a nephew of 88-year-old King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, was the leading reformist in the royal family and headed a national committee studying democratic reforms.
The deaths stunned the Tongan community. The prince had been scheduled to speak at a Tongan church in San Bruno on Thursday night, but the event turned into 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.
In a statement, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters praised the prince's efforts at reforming Tonga's political system and said it was a "tragedy" that he died while traveling travel to the United States to seek out opinions of Tongans. He said Tu'ipelehake was called the "Prince of the People."
The driver of the red Ford Explorer carrying the couple also was killed, the California Highway Patrol said.
Edith Delgado, 18, of Redwood City, allegedly was racing her car at speeds up to 100 mph on a highway in Menlo Park, about 30 miles south of San Francisco, when she tried to pass the SUV in which the couple was traveling, said highway patrol Officer Ricky Franklin.
Delgado's car slammed into the driver's side of the Explorer, causing it to swerve across several lanes before tumbling to a stop on its roof, Franklin said. Delgado, who was not injured, was jailed on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and engaging in a speed contest, Franklin said.
Tonga -- a 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.
Now the last monarchy in the Pacific, Tonga has been a Polynesian kingdom and a protectorate of Britain, from which it acquired independence in 1970.
By TERENCE CHEA, AP
SAN FRANCISCO (July 7) - A prince from the South Pacific island nation of Tonga who was known to his people as a voice for political reforms died along with his wife when a teenager crashed into their sport utility vehicle, authorities said.
Prince Tu'ipelehake, 56, and Princess Kaimana, 46, were killed in the crash Wednesday night, according to Senter Uhilamoelangi, a distant relative and longtime friend of the prince.
"His voice we'll never hear again, but his legacy is going to live on," said Uhilamoelangi, a Tonga native and East Palo Alto resident.
He said the couple had arrived in the area earlier this week to discuss political reforms with members of the region's Tongan community. Uhilamoelangi helped arrange the visit.
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.
Tu'ipelehake, a nephew of 88-year-old King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, was the leading reformist in the royal family and headed a national committee studying democratic reforms.
The deaths stunned the Tongan community. The prince had been scheduled to speak at a Tongan church in San Bruno on Thursday night, but the event turned into 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.
In a statement, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters praised the prince's efforts at reforming Tonga's political system and said it was a "tragedy" that he died while traveling travel to the United States to seek out opinions of Tongans. He said Tu'ipelehake was called the "Prince of the People."
The driver of the red Ford Explorer carrying the couple also was killed, the California Highway Patrol said.
Edith Delgado, 18, of Redwood City, allegedly was racing her car at speeds up to 100 mph on a highway in Menlo Park, about 30 miles south of San Francisco, when she tried to pass the SUV in which the couple was traveling, said highway patrol Officer Ricky Franklin.
Delgado's car slammed into the driver's side of the Explorer, causing it to swerve across several lanes before tumbling to a stop on its roof, Franklin said. Delgado, who was not injured, was jailed on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and engaging in a speed contest, Franklin said.
Tonga -- a 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.
Now the last monarchy in the Pacific, Tonga has been a Polynesian kingdom and a protectorate of Britain, from which it acquired independence in 1970.
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