Edith Delgado, 18, of Redwood City, Calif., allegedly was racing her car at speeds up to 100 mph (160 kph) on a highway in Menlo Park, California, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) south of San Francisco, when she tried to pass the SUV in which the royal couple was traveling, said highway patrol Officer Ricky Franklin. Prince Tu'ipelehake, 56, and Princess Kaimana, 46, died Wednesday night, according to Senter Uhilamoelangi, a distant relative and longtime friend of the prince. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, there are 4,549 people in San Mateo County who identified themselves as Tongan, or Tongan and another race or ethnicity, Its very, very sad, said Ahio, who learned of the deaths in an early morning phone call from San Franciscos Tongan consul general. [2], King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipauu were crowned in a ceremony conducted at Centenary Church in Nukualofa on 4 July 2015 by the Reverend D'Arcy Wood, a retired Uniting Church in Australia minister who was born in Tonga. The body of a British woman swept away by the tsunami in Tonga has been found, her brother says. In this case, we have the deaths of three perfectly innocent victims.. The collision caused the deaths of Tonga's Prince Tu'ipelehake, 54; Princess Kaimana Tu'ipelehake, 45; and Vinisia Hefa, 36, of East Palo Alto, who had been chauffeuring the royals. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, K-Pop isnt the only hot ticket in Koreatown how trot is captivating immigrants, Los Angeles is suddenly awash in waterfalls, Officials admit being unprepared for epic mountain blizzard, leaving many trapped and desperate, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, 15 arrested across L.A. County in crackdown on fraudulent benefit cards, Pasadena police banking on phone-hacking tool to solve cold case murder, Californias snowpack is approaching an all-time record, with more on the way, Hidden, illegal casinos are booming in L.A., with organized crime reaping big profits, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles. She previously covered state politics, focusing on the California Legislature, governor, budget and criminal justice. Kalatini Ahio, Heilala Ahios husband, instead became the site of a vigil for stunned community members. Prince Tu'ipelehake had been scheduled to speak to Tongans in San Bruno, California on Thursday before visiting Tongan communities in other parts of the US. Marshals investigating; Two Grandview children killed in suspected drunk driving crash near Sunnyside Prince Tu'ipelehake, 55, and Princess Kaimana, 46, were killed Wednesday in the Bay Area's Menlo Park when a teenager racing her car crashed into the Ford Explorer in which they were riding,. Runde ultimately went with the middle-ground recommendation of the probation department, saying Delgado has shown contrition and pointing out that she had no previous criminal record. It is ruled by 88-year-old King Taufaahau Tupou IV. The prince and princess had traveled to the San Francisco Bay area to discuss political reforms in the tiny South Pacific nation with members of the regions Tongan community. On the weekend, the Herald Sun newspaper claimed that Bill Waterhouse, a famous Australian horse-racing bookmaker who was also Tonga's honorary consul-general to Australia, was involved in covering up Mr Brown's killing. Ahio said the prince and princess were making their second visit. They were killed when a teenager racing her car crashed into their vehicle on Wednesday, July 5, 2006. 6,183 followers. Tongan Princess Siu'ilikutapu talks during a news conference at the Tongan royal estate in Hillsborough, Calif., Friday, July 14, 2006. On the night of July 16, 1918, a Bolshevik assassination squad executed Czar Nicholas II, his wife, Alexandra, and their five children, putting an end to the Romanov family dynasty . A retired Australian minister performed the crowning as it is taboo for Tongans to touch their king's head. A teenage motorist convicted of causing a freeway collision that killed two members of Tonga's royal family and their driver was sentenced to two years in county jail on Friday. Tonga's Princess Royal, Princess Salote Mafile'o Pilolevu Tuita talking about her fashion, style and wardrobe. In a statement released on Tuesday and given to the BBC, the palace said they "strongly denied" any connection to the murder. MENLO PARK / Tongan royal couple killed in triple fatality / Police say teenager in race caused SUV to roll several times, Parts of a crashed vehicle is displayed at a make-shift memorial Friday, July 7, 2006 at the site of a crash that killed two members of Tonga's royal family, Prince Tu'ipelehake, 56, and his wife, Princess Kaimana, 46 and their driver, Vinisia Hefa . Delgado was stopped at the scene and arrested on suspicion of three counts of vehicular manslaughter and being involved in an illegal street race. Bill Waterhouse (left) is seen here in a 1988 picture with Tonga's late King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV (second from right), The murder of George Brown (left), seen here in 1984 with one of his sons, rocked Australia's racing industry, Russian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims. It comes after an Australian tabloid published claims that the late. Before joining The Chronicle, he worked at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and the Modesto Bee, where he covered the Scott Peterson case. San Mateo County Coroner Robert Foucrault confirmed that two members of Tongas royal family had died in the crash. 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. Instead of welcoming Tonga's royal family to Seattle, the South Pacific Islander community will mourn their deaths tonight with a service at St. Edward's Parish Hall in South Seattle. With the killings of the royal family, chess pieces started to move, but it took a while before the moves concluded. or redistributed. John Cot has worked at The San Francisco Chronicle as a reporter since 2006, covering criminal and civil trials, breaking news and other topics on the Peninsula before joining the San Francisco City Hall team in 2008. Juergen Stavenow originally moved to Tonga in 1987 and lived with his family in Tongatapu where they owned and operated the Seaview Restaurant. Tongan royalty mourned in Seattle. Clear editor. The jury needed to make that finding to convict her of the felony charges. Former staff writer Lee Romney covered the Bay Area and Northern California news for the Los Angeles Times from the San Francisco bureau. Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty, Why Trudeau is facing calls for a public inquiry, The shocking legacy of the Dutch 'Hunger Winter'. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Tonga A Brisbane-born broadcaster has been installed in a role within the Tongan monarchy Jemima Burt Sulieni Layt is the first Australian to take a speaking role with the Tongan Royal Family. [9] In addition, he was also non-resident Ambassador to Japan from 15 January 2010 to his succession in 2012. [2] He served as Tonga's High Commissioner to Australia, and resided in Canberra[3][4] until the death of King George Tupou V on 18 March 2012, when Ahoeitu Unuakiotonga Tukuaho became King of Tonga, with the regnal name Tupou VI. Tupou VI (Tongan: Ahoeitu Unuakiotonga Tukuaho; born 12 July 1959) is the King of Tonga. The couple and their driver, Vinisia Hefa, 36, were killed about 9 p.m. Wednesday as they traveled north on Highway 101 through the peninsula city of Menlo Park. The three were wearing seat belts, the CHP said. Edith Delgado was held in lieu of $3 million bail after her arraignment in San Mateo County Superior Court on manslaughter and speeding charges. The three victims died when Delgado's Ford Mustang sideswiped the royal couple's Ford Explorer near Marsh Road on Highway 101 in Menlo Park, causing the sport utility vehicle to roll over several times. She is in the line of succession to the Tongan throne. In the video, which was sent to Kaniva News, a man can be heard saying: "It's now 5.54 pm". Oct 12, 2018. Defense attorney Randy Moore said he believed the sentence was too harsh. "That's one side of the ledger. 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. An hour later, 2 kids were killed in a wrong-way crash near Sunnyside; One person shot in Wapato, U.S. [12] He returned to the palace on 17 January. It's very emotional," said Kalatini Ahio, pastor of the First Tongan United Methodist Church of San Bruno, where Tu'ipelehake was supposed to speak to a community gathering Thursday evening. We accept death, Ahio said, but at the same time the way death came to the royal family, it is very sad to us.. 2 in Tongan Royal Family Killed in Calif. WASHINGTON (AP) Both Democrats and Republicans are preparing for a prolonged political battle over student debt relief if the U.S. Supreme Court rejects President Joe Biden's plan to forgive federal loans. Prince Tuipelehake, 56, and Princess Kaimana, 46, died in Wednesday nights freeway crash in Menlo Park, about 30 miles south of San Francisco, according to Senter Uhilamoelangi, a distant relative and longtime friend of the prince. Sovereign and Patron of the Orders of Puono, the Crown, the Cross of Tonga, the Royal Order of King George Tupou I, the Tongan Star and of the Royal Family Order 16 th December 1965-2006. MENLO PARK / Tongan royal couple killed in triple fatality / Police say teenager in race caused SUV to roll several times By John Cot , Marisa Lagos , Chronicle Staff Writers Jul 7, 2006 . Thus, it is appropriate to translate the nation's name as "land lying in the south." Location and Geography. Three foreign skiers were killed in an avalanche in southeastern British Columbia, Canadian police said Thursday. Paste as plain text instead, Edith Delgado, 18, of Redwood City, allegedly was racing her car at speeds up to 100 mph on a highway in Menlo Park when she tried to pass the SUV the royal couple was traveling in, said highway patrol Officer Ricky Franklin. What did Disney actually lose from its Florida battle with DeSantis? Your donation will help us continue to cover COVID-19 and our other vital local news. Judge John Runde also sentenced Delgado to three years' probation at Friday's hearing in Redwood City. warpedskydiver, July 7, 2006 in Speakers Corner. 2023 BBC. She started with the L.A. Times in 1992 and after many years in the Southland returned to San Francisco in 2003. Princess Ltfuipeka (Angelika Ltfuipeka Halaevalu Mataaho Napua-o-kalani Tukuaho; born 17 November 1983, in Nukualofa) is a Tongan royal and a member of the House of Tupou. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Delgado has already served about a year in jail as she awaited trial and is now free on bail. The sentence of two years reflects the seriousness of the offense, Fitzgerald said. Tu'ipelehake's efforts to reach out to those residents ended in the crash at about 9 p.m. Wednesday when Edith Delgado, 18, of Redwood City struck the vehicle the prince and his wife were riding in as they traveled north on Highway 101 in Menlo Park, authorities said. The case, which rocked the industry, has never been solved. A Tongan community leader in San Bruno, Talo Mahu'inga, identified the dead royals as Prince Tu'ipelehake and his wife, Princess Kaimana. [5], He was born in Nukualofa, Tonga, the third son and youngest child of King Tufahau Tupou IV. He was later appointed as Prime Minister on 3 January 2000, a function he kept until his sudden resignation on 11 February 2006. Historically, one of the most loved and admired members of the Tongan Royal Family was Queen Salote. A British woman who went missing after a massive underwater volcanic eruption resulted in tsunami waves hitting the Pacific nation of Tonga has been found dead, her family says, the island's . Consul General Tevita Otulau-o-Lakepa Kolokihakaufisi could not be reached for comment. "It was more. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Witnesses said Delgado appeared to be racing a black Cadillac Escalade in her white Ford Mustang at speeds between 85 mph and 100 mph when she tried to pass another vehicle, California Highway Patrol Officer Ricky Franklin said. Lapwai and Potlatch will represent the Whitepine League Division I at the Idaho Class 1A Division I state tournament that begins Thursday at Vallivue High School in Caldwell. We're working to restore it. Science & Environment, Tourists flock to 'Jesus's tomb' in Kashmir. Marisa Lagos covers politics for The San Francisco Chronicle, focusing on San Francisco City Hall and its Board of Supervisors. [6] He then attended the University of East Anglia, where he read Development Studies, from 1977 to 1980. The eldest, Crown Prince Tupouto'a, is an unmarried playboy in his 50s who lives in a grand palace on the outskirts of the capital Nuku'alofa. The San Mateo County Coroner Robert Foucrault would not release the names of the crash victims, but he said a 56-year-old man and a 46-year-old woman killed in the crash Wednesday night were members of the Tongan royal family. "I respect the judge, but I don't like the sentence," Moore said outside the courthouse. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. He was a good leader because he took the voice of the people all the way to the House of Parliament and carried it all the way to the king.. Tonga is the last monarchy in the Pacific and most of its politicians are appointed by the 88-year-old king rather than elected. "; King Taufa'ahau was the uncle of the dead prince, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites, How the world's oldest clove tree defied an empire, Why Royal Ballet principal Sergei Polunin quit, BBC News Updated every minute of every day, 01 Jun 09| Jurors found insufficient proof of racing, Frank Johnson III, the jury foreman, said after the trial. The crown was then placed on his head by Wood, who performed the anointing and crowning as a matter of circumventing the taboo on native Tongans touching the King's head. Once again some jerk driver thinks they are in the movie "fast and furious" and thay cant even pass without hitting someone. Her middle name is her grandmother's name, Her Late Majesty Queen Mother Halaevalu Mata'aho. TONGA - Royal Ark. Once again some jerk driver thinks they are in the movie "fast and furious" and thay cant even pass without hitting someone. In 1969, Princess Mele Siu'ilikutapu, a 21-year-old Auckland University student secretly married Tongan commoner and. [17], During the ceremony, Tupou VI was anointed with holy oil, adorned with a ring, and presented with a sceptre. Legal Statement. Legal Statement. Readers around the Lake Tahoe Basin and beyond make the Tahoe Tribune's work possible. Many wore ta'ovala -- a Tongan skirtlike garment made of woven pandanus leaves worn as a symbol of respect -- over black clothes. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Prosecutor Aaron Fitzgerald, who had sought a 30-month sentence, said he agreed with the judges decision. Here are some traditions the royal family follows that you might not have realized were a thing. Edith Delgado, now 19, broke into tears in the packed courtroom when San Mateo County Judge John W. Runde read the sentence. Mr Brown's body had been found in a burnt car in bushland south of Sydney, with signs that he had been assaulted before his death. Romney grew up in Canada and then Arizona before moving to the Bay Area. But the Tongans who have become so intertwined with life in Euless. A large contingent of family members, friends and government officials traveled from Tonga to Redwood City to assist with the identification of the victims, Foucrault said. At conservative gathering, Trump is still the favourite. Tuipelehake, a nephew of 88-year-old King Taufaahau Tupou IV, was the leading reformist in the royal family. Of 930 criminal prosecutions since 2018, 529 were drug related. To avoid German colonization Tonga became a British Protectorate in 1900, the status it held until full independence in 1970. In a tragedy that has left the Bay Areas Tongan community reeling, two visiting members of the tiny nations royal family were killed late Wednesday after their SUV was struck by a speeding Mustang. By Sanjay Bhatt. According to the 2000 census, there were 8,153 Tongans in the Bay Area, with 4,549 living in San Mateo County. The United Nations had earlier reported a distress signal was detected in Ha'apai, where Mango is located. Dedicated to the only reigning Monarch in the Pacific Islands: The Kingdom of Tonga. Tongan royal family killed in car crash Teen Charged in Wreck That Killed Tongan Royals: REDWOOD CITY, California A teenage driver charged with killing two members of the Tongan royal family and their driver after slamming into their car pleaded not guilty Friday to vehicular manslaughter. The panel acquitted her of felony charges that could have sent her to state prison for as long as eight years. That could be reduced to about four or five months with credit for good behavior. Copyright Dropzone.com 2021 Los Angeles. Powered by Invision Community. Delgado was sentenced after being convicted earlier this year on misdemeanor manslaughter for a crash on Highway 101 that killed Prince Tu'ipelehake and Princess Kaimana. SHOWN: Relatives of the three members of the Tongan Royal Family who were killed last night comfort each other in the alley behind the First United Methodist Church in San Bruno. It cuts to the heart of the Tongan community.. It comes after an Australian tabloid published claims that the late Tongan king and a former diplomat helped to conceal the killing of George Brown. [13], Ahoeitu is married to a daughter of the high chief Vaea, Nanasipauu Tukuaho (his second cousin) and the couple have three children[14] and four grandchildren:[citation needed], Since his confirmation as heir presumptive, he got the traditional title of Tupoutoa, reserved for crown princes, which his older brother (the second) had to give up because he married a commoner, while two of his previous titles went to his sons. 2 Tongan royal family members killed in California car crash, authorities say. 1,402 posts. Read about our approach to external linking. The Tongan government released its first official update on the disaster on Tuesday night confirming three deaths so far and extensive damage from the eruption and tsunami. Swipe is only available in chrome dev tools mobile mode. (AP Photo/VAPRESS@MATANGITONGA.TO, Linny Folau). Prince Tuipelehake, 56, and his wife, Princess Kaimana, 45, had arrived in the Bay Area on Tuesday and were scheduled to attend a large community forum Thursday night at a San Bruno church to discuss the needs of Tongans abroad, said the Rev. She was hired as a staff writer at the newspaper in 2006 and previously worked for the San Francisco Examiner and Los Angeles Times. Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Market data provided by Factset. Tonga's royal family in the past dealt harshly with rebels in its ranks. Royal Canadian Mounted Police said the three were among 10 skiers delivered by . Its a cultural thing, Foucrault said. A teenage motorist convicted of causing a freeway collision that killed two members of Tongas royal family and their driver was sentenced to two years in county jail on Friday. He had close ties with Tonga's King Tupou, who died in 2006. He was head of a national committee studying democratic reforms for the kingdom. It has a population of 108,000 and its economy is dependent on pumpkin and vanilla exports, fishing, foreign aid and remittances from Tongans living abroad. Uhilamoelangi, a Tonga native and East Palo Alto resident, helped arrange the visit. The reason has never been made clear, but was likely connected to pro-democracy protests calling since mid-2005 for a lesser role of the royal family in government, later culminating in the 2006 Nukualofa riots. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Two members of Tonga's royal family were killed when a teenager racing her car crashed. "He is one individual that would give an honest report, I would say, an honest survey, to the king himself and to the royal family," Mahu'inga said. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? A Redwood City woman who killed two members of the Tongan royal family and their driver in a freeway crash last year is going back behind bars after she was sentenced Friday to two years in county jail. 56,514 people are reading stories on the site right now. Ms Delgado, who was uninjured, has been detained on suspicion of manslaughter and engaging in a speed contest, police said. Delgado could have been sentenced to a maximum of three years in county jail for the July 5, 2006, deaths of Tongan Prince Tu'ipelehake, 55, his wife, Princess Kaimana Aleamotu'a Tuku'aho, 46, and their driver, East Palo Alto resident Vinisia Hefa, 36. At stake is the loyalty of young, college-educated voters who are a critical part of the Democratic . Prince Tu'ipelehake, Princess Kaimana and their driver died when a teenager crashed her car into their vehicle. 0. Tonga's royal family has denied allegations they were involved in covering up the murder of an Australian horse trainer. Prince Tu'ipelehake, hailed as the "People's Prince" for his political reform efforts, was visiting Tongan expatriates to gauge public opinion on the nation's political system when he was killed. She was educated at Queen Salote College (Kolofo'ou, Tongatapu, Tonga) and the Tonga Side School. Prosecutors said Delgado had been racing a Cadillac Escalade at speeds of at least 80 mph, using the freeway as "her playground.". They had attended a similar community forum last year, attended by more than a thousand people. A Tongan prince and princess have been killed in a car crash in San Francisco, local media have reported. Tongan King Tupou IV dies at 88 King Taufa'ahau had been suffering from an unspecified illness The people of Tonga have been plunged into mourning following the death of 88-year-old King. Tongan Royalty. Delgado, who was not injured, was jailed on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and engaging in a speed contest. Bill Waterhouse's widow also told the newspaper Matangi Tonga that there was "no truth to the stories". 159 following. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. "(It's) very hard. Tupou VI (Tongan: 'Aho'eitu Unuakiotonga Tukuaho; born 12 July 1959) is the King of Tonga.He is the younger brother and successor of the late King George Tupou V.He was officially confirmed by his brother on 27 September 2006 as the heir presumptive to the Throne of Tonga, as his brother (a bachelor) had no legitimate children. Sole daughter of Tupou VI, King of Tonga, Princess Ltfuipeka became the High Commissioner of Tonga to Australia on 22 August 2012,[1] after her father High Commissioner until then succeeded as the King of Tonga.[2]. It added that the allegations were a result of a "sad, long-running and bitter family dispute". Tonga is a 170-island archipelago about halfway between Australia and Tahiti. Delgado, of Redwood City, will receive credit for the year she already spent in county jail as well as for her good behavior as an inmate. On 5 of July 2015, she hosted a luncheon in honour for the coronation of her parents at Matakieua Villa which was attended by the Tongan Royal Family, Tongan nobility, members of the Tongan Government, foreign heads of royal houses, foreign royalty and foreign diplomats.[3]. Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? You can post now and register later. She was killed in a car accident in San Francisco, California. She is being held in San Mateo County Jail in Redwood City in lieu of $300,000 bond and is scheduled to make her initial court appearance today. Two Members of Tonga Royal Family Killed in California Wreck Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO - Two members of Tonga 's royal family were killed when a teenager racing her car crashed into. The princess will inherit the prestigious title of Princess Royal of Tonga once her paternal aunt, Princess Pilolevu, passes away. "And so our family suffers, our country suffers, because we lost a great prince. Her choice to show respect by sitting in an uncovered carriage in pouring rain at the 1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth made her famous around the world. In January 1994 Juergen and his wife left Tongatapu, relocated to Ha'apai and broke ground on the Sandy Beach location. This page was last edited on 30 December 2022, at 02:57. Tonga's royal family has denied allegations they were involved in covering up the murder of an Australian horse trainer. The prince's two sons, Osaiasi Tu'ipulotu, 34, and Vakafuhu Tu'ifua, 12, say they have forgiven Delgado and place the majority of the blame for their father's death on Ford Motor Co., maker of the Explorer, said Richard Alexander, an attorney representing the sons in a lawsuit against the automaker. 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. Edith Delgado, 19, wept as the sentence was read, and she left San Mateo County Superior Court surrounded by family members, who declined to comment. Two members of Tonga's royal family were killed when a teenager racing her car crashed into their sport utility vehicle, authorities said yesterday. A Redwood City woman convicted of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter in the 2006 crash deaths of two Tongan royal family members and their driver woke up in a jail cell Thursday morning.. He was assisted by the Reverend 'Ahio and the Reverend Tevita Havea, the president and the secretary general of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga. In 1998 he ended his military career to become part of the government, first as simultaneous defence minister and foreign minister from October 1998 until August 2004. Also killed was the Tongan King's nephew, Prince Tu'ipelehake. Uhilamoelangi, 59, said the couple had arrived in the San Francisco Bay area earlier this week to discuss political reforms in Tonga with members of the regions Tongan community. The prince is the nephew of ailing King Taufaahau Tupou IV, who has been honored at Ahios church in the past during regular visits to Stanford Medical Center. 17 things to do in Santa Cruz, the old-school beach town that makes for a charming getaway, Fox News finally reveals its kryptonite: the bottom line, This is me, this is my face: Actress Mimi Rogers on aging naturally, without cosmetic surgery, The Week in Photos: California exits pandemic emergency amid a winter landscape, Snowboarder dies at South Lake Tahoe resort, California to alter COVID rules in healthcare settings: Masks and vaccinations not required, Welcome to the world, baby Winter, born amid a snowstorm in Lake Arrowhead. Log . She wiped away tears as the gathered people lifted their voices in song and prayer.