Trucker Tragedy - Our Nine Kid Adored Him

The grieving family has a long road ahead as they mourn a gentle giant

- Aroha Awarau

When father-of-nine Jason Cooper was killed on the road last month while driving his big rig, his death sparked tributes from the country’s trucking community, showing how a close-knit industry pays respect to one of its own.

The 36-year-old’s untimely death hit the headlines and went viral after more than 400 truckies across the country uploaded photos and videos on social media of their rigs with their lights on, as a testament to the passionate driver who was loved and highly regarded by his work mates. Although Jason will be missed by his colleagues, his death has hit his partner Corrie and their nine children the hardest.

Speaking from the Hamilton home where they raised their large family, Corrie, 44, holds back tears as she tells Woman’s Day about the devastating impact her partner’s death has had on the family.

“I keep thinking it’s going to get easier,” Corrie says, glancing to the corner of the lounge where Jason’s ashes are kept. “I keep thinking he’s going to walk through the door and tell me everything was just a joke

“From the day we met until the day he passed, everything he said to me would end with the words ‘my love’. He was such a beautiful man.”

Loving father

Born in Whakatane and raised on a farm in the Eastern Bay of Plenty town of Kutarere, Jason gained his trucking licence when he was only 17. He had a passion for driving trucks and Corrie takes comfort that Jason died doing what he loved.

“He made a huge impact wherever he worked,” she tells. “All the online tributes were a testament to the type of person he was – kind, loyal and trusting.”

Corrie’s life changed forever on June 4 when she was visited by two police officers to tell her the heartbreaking news.