Crimeline: Arrow Junction crash – Extremely fortunate no fatality
Arrow Junction crash – Extremely fortunate no fatality
Police say it’s extremely fortunate that they weren’t dealing with a fatality in a three-car vehicle collision late yesterday afternoon (20 May) at Arrow Junction, where there have been a number of accidents recently.
Road Policing Acting Senior Sergeant Dylan Hannah-Jones says a Jucy Rentals vehicle turning right into McDonnell Road appears to have allegedly pulled out into the path of an oncoming car and T-boned. The Jucy vehicle was written off with extensive damage to the passenger side, Hannah-Jones says. “Had there been a passenger in the vehicle we would’ve been dealing with a fatality,” he says. The road conditions were dry at the time. Two other vehicles were involved in the crash, which allegedly appeared to have likely been due to momentary inattention. “Luckily no one was injured and killed,” Hannah-Jones says. The driver of the Jucy vehicle was thought to be in her 20s. Both of the other vehicles suffered moderate damage. Police investigations are continuing.
Drivers urged to adjust to winter driving
We’re now entering winter and Hannah-Jones says drivers need to “adjust the way they’re driving”. Road temperatures are lower; frosts have arrived and an inversion layer has been coming in and making surfaces slippery recently. He says road temperatures are normally between 2degC and 4degC cooler than the air temperature at the time. “If it’s 1degC outside then the road temperature will likely be minus 2 or minus 3. Beware of that.” Extra care should also be taken on the likes of bridges, he says.
A driver hit black ice on the Lower Shotover Bridge and spun out on Sunday, but fortunately nobody was injured.
“Road crashes are always concerning,” he says. “If you’re out on the roads try to identify the risk. We need people to help themselves.”
Unfortunately, Police expect more crashes as roads freeze and vehicles start slipping as is the norm in winter.
$700 fine now for no chains
Police have been given a new ability this year to impose a $700 fine on any driver who fails to fit snow chains locally when the road they’re travelling on requires chains. “This is a new fine that Police can use if people fail to fit the chains when they’ve been told to, for example on the Crown Range Road,” Hannah-Jones says. “We’ve not had this in the past and it gives us more enforcement capability.” He says it’s not the aim of Police to be giving out fines but “ensuring people are driving safely when conditions are at their worst”.
“It’s important that drivers adhere to the instructions of roading crews during snowfall events.”
Motorcyclist thrown off in crash - Heavy traffic
A motorcyclist was ejected from a motorcycle during a crash with a vehicle near Yewlett Crescent on Frankton Road during heavy traffic at 3.30pm on Saturday, 16 May. Constable Amanda Shute says it appears the vehicle has allegedly moved out of a median strip into the left-hand lane causing the motorcycle to collide with the vehicle. One person suffered moderate injuries and another minor injuries, she says. They were attended to by St John Ambulance.
Frankton Fire Brigade also attended and chief fire officer Paul Halsted says they helped with traffic management during what was a busy time.
FENZ urges pay attention – Drive to conditions, slow down
Halsted says there have already been a couple of ice-related incidents too, one in Arrowtown on a recent icy morning.
FENZ has expressed concern in recent weeks about the concerning spate of accidents, which FENZ Otago Lakes group assistant commander Nic McQuillan says appears to have been unusually large for what is normally a quieter period for the district. He too is urging drivers to pay attention.
Halsted says extra care is needed heading into winter. “That’s when we normally see “more condition related accidents due to ice and visibility, whether that’s frozen windscreens or morning fog”. Drive to conditions, slow down. make sure you carry chains if you’re heading over the passes,” Halsted says.
Alleged drink driving accident – Malaghans Road
A 23-year-old Queenstown man allegedly blew a very high level of 926mcg after a single vehicle crash on Malaghans Road just after 2am on Sunday, 17 May. Shute says the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle and collided with a roadside barrier. One of the passengers received lacerations to the head, she says. The driver has been charged with driving with an excess breath alcohol level and operating a vehicle carelessly. His licence was suspended for 28 days, and he appears in the Queenstown District Court on 29 June.
Vehicle slides off Littles Road – Black ice
Police also attended a single vehicle collision on Littles Road at 7am on Tuesday, 19 May. Shute says a vehicle lost traction due to black ice and slid off the road. The driver has allegedly attempted to correct the vehicle from sliding and crashed head on into a bank, spinning around and coming to rest facing the road, she says.
Drink driving
A 47-year-old Tararua man allegedly blew 886mcg while subjected to a zero-alcohol licence just before 12.30am on Thursday, 14 May. The man was charged with driving on a zero-alcohol licence with breath containing alcohol – over 200 and will appear in court tomorrow, 22 May. Shute says the driver was suspended from driving for 28 days.
A 25-year-old Queenstown man allegedly blew 700mcg when stopped by Police near Kingston Road just after 1am last Wednesday, 13 May. Licence suspended 28 days. Court tomorrow, 22 May.
