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The mother of a 12-year-old girl who died with her best friend and the other girl's family when a tourist driver ploughed in to their car has opened up about the loss. 

Abi Hone died in June 2014 when Johannes Appelman, a Dutch tourist, crashed in to the car she was travelling in in Rakaia near Christchurch in New Zealand.

The schoolgirl's best friend Ella Summerfield and her mother Sally also died in the accident. Shane Summerfield, Ella's 48-year-old father, was driving at the time and was injured.

Now, almost two years after her death, Abi's mother Lucy has spoken of the helplessness she felt after seeing her daughter die so suddenly.

Abi Hone (left) died with her best friend Ella Summerfield (right together) in 2014 when a tourist ploughed in to the car they were travelling in in New Zealand 

'I felt so helpless over Abi's death. I was in desperate need to take control over my grieving,' she said. 

In a lengthy article about how to cope with grief shared by Stuff.nz, Mrs Hone revealed how she kept her daughter alive by keeping some of her most loved belongings in their family home.

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'I have certain rituals that remind me of her...I wear her necklace when I need extra strength, we continue to celebrate her birthday at the same spot on the beach every year.' 

She added she still cooked from Mrs Summerfield's recipes in memory of her. Determined not to let their deaths define her life, she said she chose 'life not death' and urged others grieving the loss of a child to do the same. 

'I did have a daughter, her presence was real, not imaginary, and she brought so much joy to my life. 

Abi's mother Lucy Hone said she tried to keep her daughter alive through 'rituals'. Above, the 12-year-old with her best friend 

Sally Summerfield, Ella's mother (above) also died in the crash. Her husband Shane, who was driving at the time, was seriously injured 

Mrs Hone said she at first felt 'helpless' when trying to cope with the grief of losing her daughter 

'Staying miserable forever was just not an option for me. I have two beautiful teenage boys to live and care for.' 

Appelman was convicted of careless driving causing death and injury at Christchurch District Court in 2014. 

He had driven through a stop sign when he crashed in to the car carrying the girls.

At the time Abi's parents said they held no ill-will towards the man despite his fatal mistake. 

'They certainly feel for him and what he's going through. At the end of the day we've all had lapses of judgment. 

'Unfortunately this one had tragic consequences,' a spokesman for the family said. 

A campaign has since been launched in New Zealand for tourists to be forced by law to display T-plates while driving. 

The people behind it claim it will reduce road accidents by foreigners who are not familiar enough with the country's rough terrain and at times difficult roads. 

The children and Mrs Summerfield were killed when a Dutch national ploughed in to their car in Rakaia, New Zealand, in June 2014 (above) 

Johannes Appleman (above) was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving following the incident 

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