Worst Birthday Road Toll

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31080, 8 June 1966, Page 1

Worst Birthday Road Toll

(NZ. Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 7. The road toll for the Queen’s Birthday week-end was the worst on record. Twelve persons lost their lives and many more are in hospital.

“After a promising beginning to the year, the onset of winter has brought a sudden • 1 dramatic increase in ro?d ths." the chief superintendent of the Transport Department (Mr J. C. C. Edwards) said today. In at least two accidents, the victims might have survived if they had been wearing safety belts. In one case belts were fitted but not worn.

“Motorists have proved that they can keep the road toll down when the weather conditions are good, but they do not seem to be adapting themselves to winter driving conditions,” Mr Edwards said. “When the weather is wet and the roads are greasy, motorists must keep their windscreens clear and drive at speeds to suit the condi-

tions, especially at night. Until we have drivers who adapt their driving to winter conditions, we will have trouble on the roads. “Pedestrians also should try to realise the difficulties of drivers under these conditions and take precautions when crossing the road Anyone in dark clothing should wear something white at night” The number of deaths reported this year is 217, compared with 266 at the same time last year.

Girl Killed A girl was struck from behind and killed on the main highway at Wakapuaka, about five miles from Nelson, early this morning. She was Loaise Barbara Wastney, aged 16, a domestic, daughter of Mr and Mrs L. W. Wastney, of Athol street, The Glen. The Nelson police said Miss Wastney was walking home at 12.45 a.m. when she was struck from behind by a car driven by her brother, Stenhen Wayne Wastney, aged 20. The accident occurred near

the comer of the Todds Valley road. Miss Wastney suffered severe head injuries, cuts and bruises. She was flung several feet by the impact. She was taken to Nelson Public Hospital by ambulance, but was dead on arrival. The car went out of control and crashed on the righthand side of the road. It was not badly damaged and Mr Wastney was not hurt. Hit By Car A pedestrian was killed instantly when he was struck by a car near Clive at 7.40 last night. He was: Brian Francis Nesdale, aged 40, single, of Tomoana Freezing Works. The driver of the car, Judith Ray Newman, of Hastings, suffered shock and minor abrasions. Boy Dies A 12-year-old boy died in the Whakatane Hospital at 8.30 this morning of injuries suffered when his trolley and and a car collided in Eivers road, Whakatane, on Sunday evening. ■ N

ne was: Maurice Horan, son of Mr and Mrs H. O. Horan, of 87A Peace street, Whakatane. The boy suffered severe head injuries. Paul Clarke, aged 13, who was pushing the trolley, suffered minor injuries. Name Released The man killed when two cars collided at Topuni last night was: Maurice Charles Ward, aged 21, of the R.N.Z.A.F. base, Whenuapai.. Death In Hospital The driver of a car which hit a telegraph pole at Waikino at 6.15 pm. on Saturday died in the Waihi Hospital this morning. He was: Wayne Robertson, aged 17, a baker’s labourer, of Waihi. A passenger In the car was killed. Two other passengers, Phillip Nukie, aged 16, of Tauranga, and Raymond Edward McGregor, aged 17, of Waihi, who were admitted to hospital, are now in. a fairly satisfactory condition.