ROAD SERVICES BUS CRASHES IN DEAD OF NIGHT ON DESERT ROAD ICE

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 4, 26 June 1984, Page 4

ROAD SERVICES BUS CRASHES IN DEAD OF NIGHT ON DESERT ROAD ICE

A southbound New Zealand Road Services bus crashed on the Desert Road in the early hours of last Monday morning when it struck a patch of ice, at a bend known as the southernmost of the Three Sisters, 35km north of Waiouru. It slewed across the road and struck the ba-nk on the opposite (right hand) side of the road at abouf 1.20am.

The front of the bus was damaged and the windscreen broken. The driver was slightly injured but managed to walk from the bus with help. One of the passengers seated behind the driver was not so fortunate however ... it is understood this passeenger suffered a broken leg but the remaining six passengers were unhurt and were transferred onto a following New Zealand Road Services bus. Ambulances from both | Turangi and Waiouru were summoned to the accident. Three NZR Road Services buses had been travelling south that night and were due in Taihape about 2.00am to meet up with the Taumarunui/ King Country/ Palmerston North service for a transfer of passengers, mail and freight. The King Country bus which got into Taihape at the usual time had to wait for over an hour until 3. 1 5am when the first of the two undamaged Desert Road buses arrived to carry passengers onto Wellington. This bus, usually du'e to arrive in Wellington at 6.00am, didn't get into the Railway Station until 6.45am ... three-quarters-of-an-hour late.