Home News Opinion Videos Blogs Features Family Notices Classifieds Photos Events Clubs Advertising Contact
Sport Focus on the Land Entertainment
Editorials Columns Letters
News Market Place
Fire beat rescuers
Tuesday, October 23, 2012 • Debbie Gregory
A COUPLE who live next to the scene of the quadruple fatality just north of Gisborne on Saturday night are still in shock after the crash and say the curve is extremely dangerous.

In the past year they have been living there they have seen hundreds crossing the centre line on the troublesome curve near the former site of the Kaitaratahi Hotel and two major accidents.

But the “horrific” fatal crash on Saturday night was by far the worst.

Police believe a Ford Explorer crossed the centre line and smashed head-on into an Odessa van.

The Explorer caught fire, killing the three passengers — all from Putaruru.

The driver was the only survivor. He is in a stable condition in Gisborne Hospital today with moderate injuries.

They were on their way to Gisborne to visit family.

Five-months pregnant Jessica McMillan and her partner Matt Butler were watching a movie about 9.15pm when they heard an explosion outside.

A tangle of two vehicles at their front gate, mixed with the strong smell of petrol, sent them running to help with wet blankets.

In a smashed up Odessa van was 33-year-old Serena Smith, a mother of four young children from Whatatutu, who was travelling back to her parents’ home at Whatatutu after spending the night sober-driving for her friends in Gisborne.

“We could see she would need the jaws of life to free her and she was not moving at all, so we went to the other car.”

Matt dragged the 58-year-old driver to safety, then went back with others who had arrived.

By then they could also smell smoke.

“We could see the fire starting in the front — it was just some little flames coming from under the dashboard. We knew we didn’t have much time.

“There was a guy in the back, with his leg through to the front, and we tried to get him out.

Matt and another person climbed through the boot but were still unable to help him.

People ran for more water and wet towels.

“But there was nothing we could do — it was fully engulfed in 15 seconds.”

Matt and Jessica attached the Odessa to their ute and dragged it away so it would not catch on fire.

They did not know there were two other people in the car.

“We couldn’t see anyone else. The car was all squished up. Everything was compacted.”

The crash left a burned circle in the middle of the road.

They say the curve is definitely a trap for strangers to the road and they have lost count of the cars they have seen from their home that cross the centre line.

“This has been awful but we just hope it will trigger something to make people aware the corner has more to it than it looks.

“Even a ‘slow down’ sign.”

• Police would like to hear from two men who helped at the crash scene.

They were driving a single-cab white utility vehicle and were heading towards Gisborne. They appeared to have been hunting.

Police ask them to urgently contact them at the police station, 06 869 0200.
Comments
No comments - be the first to comment
Poll

Do you agree with a bid to pull bridge jumpers away from unsafe road bridges in the city by building “bombing platforms” for youngsters in safe places along the Turanganui River?

Please read: Call for ‘bombing platforms’
Yes
No
Don't Know
Send in your
News
Letters
Columns
Events
Clubs
Classifieds
Poll suggestions
Explore The Gisborne Herald
News Editorial Features Events
Sport Letters to the Editor Family Notices Clubs
Focus on the Land Columns Classifieds Advertising
News Features Polls Photos Contact
64 Gladstone Road, PO Box 1143, Gisborne, New Zealand | Ph: +64 6 869 0600 | Fax: +64 6 869 0643 (editorial) | Fax: +64 6 869 0644 (advertising) | News Hotline: 0800 NEWSLINE (639 754) | info@gisborneherald.co.nz Copyright © The Gisborne Herald