Cars On Lindis Pass In Sea Of Mud

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31755, 12 August 1968, Page 14

Cars On Lindis Pass In Sea Of Mud

(New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, August 11. Many motorists have been stranded for up to six hours near the Lindis Pass in the last few days, when their cars have been trapped in a sea of mud—and 55 vehicles still had to be pulled out this week-end.

A recent thaw has melted the snow and left parts of the road covered in deep mud, the worst stretch being near Dunstan Downs, on the Omarama side of the pass.

Mrs C. H. Ruffell. of the Tarras Store, said she knew of 11 cars stranded in ankledeep mud today. Motorists were coming into the store “covered from head to foot in mud,” she said Mr J. Innes, of Dunstan Downs station, spent all day today pulling cars through the bad patches with a tractor. Many cars lost exhaust pipes, and were dented in several places. Many cars were stuck for several hours.

A young mother with four small children had to sit in her car at one point for more than two hours, before help arrived.

There were no road signs to warn drivers of the situation, although conditions are

such that chains are necessary.

Complaints about the state of the Lindis Pass Road have been made to the Ministry of Works recently by the North Otago Automobile Association, and the Vincent and Waitaki County Councils. Further concern has been expressed by persons living near the highway. An extensive rock slip on the Tarras side of the Lindis Pass was being cleared to-!

night by Ministry of Works staff, a slip thought to be caused by melting snow. Passengers on a New Zealand Railways Road Services bus were forced to push the bus through the clinging mud on Saturday night.