Toby Broomhall, 34, died instantly when his northbound Toyota Hilux utility collided head-on with a southbound logging truck on State Highway 16 near Waimauku shortly before 6:45 a.m. on Tuesday, December 2, 2025.
Police confirmed the logging truck crossed the centre line on a rain-slicked stretch of road, striking Toby’s vehicle with such force that both came to rest across both lanes. Emergency services pronounced him dead at the scene; the truck driver sustained moderate injuries and was taken to Waitakere Hospital.
The Serious Crash Unit is investigating speed, wet weather conditions, and possible driver fatigue as contributing factors, with blood tests pending. The highway remained closed for nine hours while investigators examined skid marks, debris patterns, and dash-cam footage from following vehicles. Police have appealed for any witnesses travelling the route between Helensville and Brigham Creek that morning to come forward.
Toby, the sole occupant of his Hilux, was returning home to Te Atatū Peninsula after an early start on a renovation job in Helensville. Friends said he had texted his fiancée Sarah at 5:30 a.m. saying he was “running on coffee and good vibes” and looking forward to coaching his daughter’s rugby practice that evening.
A qualified builder and director of Broomhall Builders Ltd, Toby was renowned across West Auckland for quality craftsmanship and reliability. He leaves behind Sarah, their daughters aged 6 and 3, his parents, and two younger brothers. The family has asked for privacy while police complete their inquiries.
Toby’s sudden death has devastated the Waitākere community, where his booming laugh at weekend barbecues, his annual Christmas lights extravaganza, and his willingness to help anyone with a hammer in hand were local legends. A Givealittle page set up for the family had already surpassed NZ$120,000 within 48 hours.
At 34, Toby Broomhall’s life ended far too soon on a rain-soaked highway, but the homes he renovated, the children he coached, and the countless mates he lifted up will carry his spirit forward.