Trauma specialists will be in Timaru today providing support for school students who knew the teenagers killed on Saturday night.
Photo: RNZ / Conan Young
Five teenage boys, aged between 15 and 16, died when their overloaded car hit a power pole at an intersection in Washdyke.
The 19-year-old driver survived and is in a stable condition in Timaru Hospital.
The car smashed into the power pole with such force the car broke in half, hurling debris down the road.
Police say one passenger was riding in the boot of the car.
The crash happened just before 7.30pm at the intersection of Seadown Road and Meadows Road in Washdyke, on the northern edge of Timaru.
Mayor Nigel Bowen told Morning Report the community hasn't faced a tragedy like this for a long time - and trauma support staff are in schools as children return today.
"The community has been really struck by this obviously and as kids get back to school, with a small community it's one or two degrees of separation."
Two of the teens attended Aoraki Alternative Education, a small school with only about 20 students.
Those who died in the crash had been previously across three schools, so all schools will be impacted by the news, Bowen said.
"It really is traumatic so it's going to be a tough day, a tough week ahead as these children are buried as well."
He said the years to follow will be tough for the community.
The Ministry of Education says its traumatic incident team has already been in contact with the schools involved, and additional staff have arrived in Timaru from Christchurch.
The team will provide support as long as it is needed.
Photo: RNZ / Conan Young
While the debris from the crash has been cleared away, flowers and messages are being left at the site.
Among them, messages on cards read: "Too soon - forever ours" and 'Kia kaha- fly high brothers we all love you".
Bowen says before the crash he wasn't aware this was an area where kids congregate to drive cars.
"But if it wasn't there, they would be going elsewhere. It borders our industrial area so during the day there would be a lot of heavy trucks up and down, in and around ... it's just outside the township or city that kids can go to drive their cars."
The council has a role to play in road safety and education and will continue to do so, he said.
"It's education and it's around people making good choices and on this day they've made some horrible choices.
"We are where we are but we've got to move forward and look to support those families and the greater community that have been affected by this."
Aoraki Area Commander Inspector Dave Gaskin said yesterday speed and alcohol may have been factors in the crash.
The driver of the car has yet to be spoke to by police.
A full investigation will be carried out.