N.Z.’s Holiday Road Toll Double Last Year’s

Press, Volume C, Issue 29402, 3 January 1961, Page 8

N.Z.’s Holiday Road Toll Double Last Year’s

(New Zealana Prase Association) WELLINGTON, January 2. Eighteen persons have died on New Zealand’s roads over the Christmas-New Year holidays—twice the number killed in the 1959-60 period. Last year’s death toll was 377—28 more than in 1959. Traffic officers report many cases of dangerous driving around beaches and holiday resorts. They urge greater care when there are children in the car. Many cars have been found without warrants of fitness. The number of under-age drivers has also caused concern. In one case in Southland a traffic officer found a car being driven by a 12-year-old boy.

Death From Injuries A power-cyclist who collided with a car on the Nelson-Motueka highway near the Moutere Hotel on Saturday died in Nelson Hospital yesterday. He was Boy Edward Gerrish, aged 61, of Upper Moutere, married with an adult family. The car was driven by Paul Chinnery, of Christchurch.

Pedestrian Killed A girl was killed and a youth is in hospital on the dangerously ill list after being knocked down by a car in Valley road, Papakura, about 3.15 a.m. on New Year’s Day. The dead girl was Patricia Fay Trenonth, aged 15, a machinist, daughter of Mr and Mrs John Trenouth, of Otahuhu. Michael Donnelly, aged 18, a farmhand, of Papakura, was taken to MiddlemOre Hospital with serious head injuries and later transferred to Auckland Hospital. The couple were standing on the grass verge of the road when the accident happened. Power-Cyclist Dies A power-cyclist died in Southland Hospital on Saturday morning from injuries received when his machine hit a parked truck in Invercargill on Friday night. He was Jack Capil, aged 23, a labourer, of Kapuka. He was admitted to hospital suffering from multiple injuries to the base of the skull. Struck Truck The driver suffered severe head injuries about 2.15 a.m. on New Year’s Day when a car collided with the rear of a stationary truck near the Gisborne Showgrounds. He is Geoffrey Wilson, aged 19, single, a farmhand, of Te Arai. He has been unconscious in Cook Hospital since the accident. Four Injured Four women were taken to Middlemore Hospital after two cars collided at an intersection in Auckland last night. Mrs Alice Maude Batty, aged 74, of Auckland, a suspected fracture of the skull and concussion, and Miss Rosalie Lyon, aged 20, draughtswoman, of 101 Wadestown road. Wellington, injuries to the spine, were admitted to hospital. Mrs A. V. Lyon and Miss Heather Lyon, both of 101 Wadestown road, Wellington, were treated for minor injuries. Boy Killed A 15-year-old boy was killed in a car accident about six miles from Paraparaumu at 9.30 p.m. yesterday. The police withheld his name pending notification of next-of-kin. The car in which the boy was travelling spun off the road and threw him about 20 feet. He was killed instantly.

Trapped In Car One of three youths injured when a car hit a telephone pole and snapped it off in Alexandra early on Saturday morning, had to be cut out of the wreck with a hacksaw. He is Alan Charles Williams, aged 22, of Green Island. He suffered ’ extensive injuries and is in Dunstan Hospital, Clyde. The other two hurt were David Blackledge, of Alexandra, and Barry Thompson, also of Alexandra, both aged about 20. Thompson received concussion. Blackledge, concussion and suspected leg injury.

Hit By Propeller An underwater swimmer suffered severe injuries when he was struck by the propeller of a motor boat at Worser Bay, Wellington, on Sunday afternoon. He is Mr B. Arnott, of Clyde street, Island Bay, who suffered shock, concussion, severe lacerations to the back and right shoulder, and a puncture wound to the upper right arm. He was admitted to Wellington Hospital, where his condition is reported to be satisfactory.