Man Trapped In Wrecked Tanker

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32396, 8 September 1970, Page 24

Man Trapped In Wrecked Tanker

(New Zealand Press Association) TAURANGA, September 7. Rescue workers battled for almost an hour to free the driver of a caustic soda tanker who was trapped in the wreckage of the cab after his vehicle ran off the road and crashed into a tree on the Waihi Road Hill, on the outskirts of Tauranga, this afternoon’

The driver, Mr Dennis Traill, married, of Tauranga, suffered a broken leg and was taken to the Tauranga Hospital. The tank containing about 2000 gallons of caustic soda remained intact. According to eye-witnesses, the tanker went out of control going down the hill, crossed on to the incorrect side of the road, and smashed into a large tree about 20 feet off the road. A traffic officer at the scene said that the tanker would have crashed into houses if

the tree had not been there. i The cab of the tanker was demolished and Mr Traill was pinned inside the wreckage by his legs. Police used chainsaws to cut down the tree and the Tauranga Fire Brigade was called to help cut Mr Traill out of the wreckage. Brigade officers sawed through smashed doors and panels while an ambulance stood by. A tractor and a bulldozer, called from nearby construction sites, cleared debris from round the tanker and hauled .away the tree.