Lucky escape

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 243, 24 May 1988, Page 1

Lucky escape

Two Ohakune men are lucky to be alive after a horrific six truck pile-up south of Rotorua recently. Wayne Waara and son Clayton were north bound in a carrot truck owned by market gardener Frank Taylor when their rig was struck by an oncoming logging truck that apparently hit a greasy patch on the road. The truck impacted on the cab of the carrot truck

causing extensive damage. The steering unit was also extensively damaged. Three more units were also involved in the pile-up that left a tangle of twisted metal strewn across the highway. Mr Waara received an eye injury from broken windscreen glass. His son Clayton was shaken but uninjured. Ohakune residents Frank and Lorraine Taylor were amazed by

the extent of the damage to the vehicle. An assessment of the vehicle revealed cost of repair would be in the area of $100,000. Lorraine Taylor said Mr Waara thought he was "a goner" when confronted with the oncoming truck. "We're amazed that they made it out alive," she said. Mr Waara is currently on holiday recovering from his injury and was unable to be contacted.