Fatal crash prompts plea for safe driving
Take care on rural roads – this plea from local resident Claudia Aalderink comes after the fatal crash at the intersection on Dawson and Lake Roads.
Claudia, who lives in Taupiri, was on the scene and sat with one of the boys who was trapped in the other car until emergency services came.
“It was pretty upsetting, especially because it could have been prevented. If only they’d put a big yellow line on both sides of that intersection. Please look around you, everyone. I’m devastated that someone has lost their life here. I wish those cars has missed each other.”
“Stay safe and don’t rush to get home,” she said.
The crash happened just before 5pm on Saturday night, reports the Hamilton News.
A 59-year-old male driver died in hospital following the crash and the woman passenger travelling in the same car was this morning in a serious but stable condition at Waikato Hospital.
Two of the three occupants in the other vehicle were taken to hospital with minor injuries, while the third person was uninjured.
Waikato police senior sergeant Pete van de Wetering said the car travelling along Dawson Rd failed to observe the give way sign and crashed into the vehicle travelling along Lake Rd.
Waikato police are investigating the crash.
Claudia, who runs Gordonton’s The Mandarin Tree, has made similar pleas for drivers to take care driving on country roads.
In 2011 she raised concerns about the safety of a section of Horsham Downs Rd, just past Bankier Rd, after her car ran off the road.
She was told by the farmer that she was the 17th to come to grief in the last five years. “The road is on a funny angle, the surface is strange. I drive very carefully when I travel along it now.”
Another car landed in the ditch on the deceptive corner weeks after and finally, a new sign alerting motorists to slow down was erected.
Claudia says she is thinking of everyone following the recent tragic accident.
“And thanks to all the brave people of the police, ambulance and fire services who deal with this on a daily basis.”
