25-year-old from Colorado killed in car crash on vacation in New Zealand, police say
A Colorado family is mourning the death of a 25-year-old killed in a car crash while on vacation in New Zealand.
Nicholas Isaac Simon, 25, from Colorado and his partner were visiting New Zealand on a month-long vacation, the New Zealand Police said in a news release. They were driving on Thursday, Oct. 27 in Gisborne, about 290 miles southeast of Auckland on New Zealand’s North Island, when they collided with another vehicle.
Four people were seriously injured in the crash and taken to a hospital by helicopter, police said in the Nov 1 release. Simon, who was driving at the time of the crash, died from his injuries, detectives said.
“Our sincere condolences and thoughts are with Mr. Simon’s partner and his family and friends in the U.S.A. at this very sad time,” New Zealand Police Detective Senior Sgt. Mark Moorhouse said in the release. “We are very sorry for their loss.”
“This is the nightmare scenario for any parent,” Simon’s mother, Sarah Boersma Simon, posted on Facebook.
Simon, who went by Nick, was born and raised in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, about 155 miles northwest of Denver, according to his obituary published by the Steamboat Pilot.
“Nick charged through his 25 years as fully as anyone we’ve ever known,” Sarah Boersma Simon wrote. “He was a shining soul with an incredible gift of spreading love for his people and passion for his outdoor pursuits.”
Simon enjoyed mountain biking, hiking, backpacking, surfing and skiing, according to his obituary. He was in New Zealand on a “much anticipated, adventure trip with the love of his life, Brooke Buchanan.”
“He worked hard and played hard, and squeezed the nectar out of every single day,” Sarah Boarsma Simon said. “But the thing he did best was love. No one loved better than Nicholas.”
This story was originally published November 1, 2022 at 3:40 PM with the headline "25-year-old from Colorado killed in car crash on vacation in New Zealand, police say."
