Victim of horrific bridge crash fronts campaign | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

A young Havelock North man who was lucky to survive a notorious crash that claimed the lives of two of his closest friends is bravely fronting the local side of a transtasman police blitz on alcohol this weekend.

Ben Morrison, 20, received critical injuries in the horror smash on the SH50 bridge over the Tutaekuri River in 2009 that claimed the lives of teenagers Robert Waikari and Max Harman, both 17.

He was among seven teenagers in a van driven by a 16-year-old learner driver that swerved into the path of an oncoming car and ended upside down on a bridge railing. Robert, Max and a teenage girl were catapulted 15m into the Tutaekuri River below.

Two years later he is still recovering from brain and physical injuries, and with his mother Tori Morrison will join police and Road Safe Hawke's Bay in the transtasman drink-drive campaign, Operation Unite.

"I'm doing this because there are too many drunken accidents and youth that get into cars intoxicated," Ben said.

"This is something I am able to do that sends out the message to youth that needs to get out."

Mrs Morrison has been involved in awareness campaigns before, speaking of a mother's nightmare: a 4am phone call and arriving at ICU to be told of her son's life-threatening injuries.

"We'll do whatever we can to help get the message out there for all people to not drink and drive and to make the right choices," she said.

Road Policing Eastern District acting Senior Sergeant Clint Adamson said the Morrisons were asked to front the campaign as they knew the tragic consequences all too well.

"They are the classic example of young people who made decisions under the influence of alcohol that led to tragic consequences," he said. "It is particularly good of Ben to get involved in this, it is very brave of him to come out to the public with his message after what happened to himself and to his friends."

There is a three-page list of Ben's physical injuries from the crash. On top of a serious eye injury that requires frequent surgery, he broke multiple bones, ruptured organs and now deals with memory loss and anger issues from an ongoing brain injury.

"It took a good two years for my brain to get to where it is now, which is not quite 100 per cent, and my last eye surgery was only about two months ago," Ben said.

The worst damage was not visible, as he dealt with his friends' deaths and legal proceedings against the driver who was sentenced for manslaughter in February.

"I want to tell people to think about the consequences before you make decisions, and think about your passengers, not just yourself, and the other vehicles on the road," Ben said.

Starting tonight, the Morrisons will join police and Road Safe Hawke's Bay at drink-drive checkpoints around the region, promoting sober driving.

Mr Adamson said the blitz at the start of the festive season was no coincidence.

"This is the start of the build up to Christmas and the warm weather, and people have work dos and parties happening, students are coming back into town and people are going to be drinking a lot," he said. "Police want them to have a good time, but they have to be mindful of other people and look out for each other and not make stupid decisions."