Head-On Collision Between Car and Truck

Chronicle (Levin), 17 June 1946, Page 4

Head-On Collision Between Car and Truck

SMASH ON OHAU BRIDGE A head-on collision between a heavy truck and a large saloon car oecurred about 2.15 p.m. on Saturday afternoon on the oneway traffic bridge at Ohau. As a result the three occupants of the car, a young man and two young women, were injured, and had to be taken to the Palmerston North Hospital. They were: Mr. Peter Royal, of Otaki; condition satisfactory. Miss Hazel Burgess, of Otaki; qondition satisfactory. Miss Diane Lightwell, of Otaki; condition serious. — The occupants of the truck, Mr. W. L. Salmons and Miss B. J. Rolscon, both of Levin, suffered some mts, and received medical attenoiQn before being taken to their nomes. - ! The truck was owned by Messrs. W. Capper and Son, oi Levin, and was being driven southwards to Wellington by Mr. Salmons. Mr. Royal was travelling northwards. The accident occurreu. towards the : .outhern end of the bridge, the surface of which was made slippery after rain which had f allen earber. After its brakes had been applied the car skidded head^on into the truck, pushing its engme •oackwaras and causing very extensive structural damage. The truck received only slight damage. . The damaged vehicles, both of which were immobile, completely plocked the main highway at the oridge, and long lines of cars soon gathered at both approaches, it jeing estimated that upwards of 100 were held up. With the aid of Messrs. Mudgway Bros.' truck, vvhich was working in the river "ieiow, the car and, truck were .owed oif the bridge, and Sergeant W. Grainger and Constable A. T. Kelk, of Levin, who had been summoned, soon had the traffic under wav again.

The collision was another m a long succession of accidents which nave occurred over the years at «bis bridge, which is dangerous from the point of view of visibility and also on account of the slippery nature of the surface in wet weaher. Once the railwa,y crossing is aegotiated, the motorist travelling aorthwards has practically no vision of oncoming traffic until on he southern approach to the 3rid"'3. The sealed surface there is smooth, and after rain the application of the brakes on a vehicle cause it to skid. Until this old wooden structure is replaced, or Lmprovements to the existing conditions are CEtrried. out, a.ccid6iits vill continue to happen.