with vid
Six hurt but speed limit reduces impact in crash Thursday, January 8, 2015
by Murray Robertson
THE temporary 70kmh speed restriction during the freedom camping season “made a difference” yesterday when two cars collided head-on at a bend on SH35 between Tatapouri and Turihaua.
One of the cars was towing a caravan.
Emergency services were called to the crash at about 3.30pm.
“We transported six people to hospital, two women aged in their 40s and another in her 30s, three children, aged 8 and 14, and a two-week-old baby,” a St John spokesman said.
“They had a range of minor to moderate injuries, mainly seatbelt bruising, with some sore heads and necks.”
Two ambulances were used to get them to the hospital’s emergency department.
The fire service attended and a fireman drove one of the ambulances to the hospital while the St John crew worked on the patients in the back.
“The eight-year-old child and the infant were admitted to Planet Sunshine children’s ward for observation overnight,” a hospital spokeswoman said this morning.
“The other injured people were treated and discharged.”
The accident happened on a bend just north of Tatapouri Beach.
“We are investigating the probability that one of the vehicles involved crossed the centre line to go into the beach carpark and went into the path of the oncoming vehicle,” said Senior Constable Mike Schultz.
“The 70kmh speed restriction in place along the Turihaua-Pouawa freedom camping area definitely made a difference in the crash because both vehicles were travelling slower.
“If the south-bound oncoming vehicle had been going faster, the outcome could have been very different.
“As it was, the people in the cars were very lucky to have escaped with just minor injuries,” Senior Constable Schultz said.
The accident happened just outside a family caravan.
“We were on the beach so saw nothing but we heard a loud bang as the collision happened,” the campers said.
Both vehicles were extensively damaged.
“It is likely charges will be laid as a result of the crash,” Senior Constable Schultz said.
State Highway 35 remained open during the emergency.
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