Man and child die in four-car crash

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32561, 22 March 1971, Page 2

Man and child die in four-car crash

(N.Z. Press Association) ROTORUA, March 21. Two persons—a man and a baby—are dead as a result of a four-car crash on State Highway No. 5, 20 miles north of Taupo, on Friday. The Rotorua police said the child was killed in the smash and the man died in the Rotorua Hospital on Friday afternoon. They were: Thomas Andrew Bird, farmer, of Ihakara, near Levin, and Sharron Wheoki, aged 2, of Taupo. The man’s wife, Betty Doreen Bird, of Levin, is critically ill in the Rotorua Hospital’s intensive care unit. Police said there were five people in hospital, including the parents of the dead child. They are Mr Harry Wheoki, and Mrs Matina Wheoki, both of Taupo. They are reported to be in a fairly serious condition. Also in hospital are their two other children. GIRL KILLED In Auckland, an 18-year-old girl was killed on Friday night after being struck by a car on the Great North Road, New Lynn. She was Ena Whippy, single, of Maybelle Place, Kelston. PEDESTRIAN STRUCK A young man waiting on the side of State Highway No. 1 at Henley, 24 miles south of Dunedin, was killed on Friday night when he was istruck by one of two cars in-

volved in a collision at an intersection. He was Rodger Glenn Stirling, aged 19, of the forestry camp, Berwick. The occupants of the cars were not injured. STOCK CAR CRASH Three men were injured and taken to the Cook Hospital in Gisborne last night when a stock car crashed through a safety fence at a speedway meeting in Gisborne and sent wooden rails flying into the spectators. Admitted to hospital were Mr Denis Hunter, of Gisborne, who suffered a dislocated shoulder and concussion, and Mr Leonard Bright, of Gisborne, who suffered concussion. The condition of both men tonight was described as “comfortable.” The third man was treated for arm injuries and discharged. FRANKTON COLLISION Six young men were injured, one seriously, when two cars collided in Frankton, near Queenstown, on Saturday night.

Fraser Stewart Campbell, aged 20, suffered serious chest injuries and is in the intensive care unit at Kew Hospital, Invercargill. Also, admitted to hospital were Brian Louis Barron, who suffered facial lacerations and shock, and Terrence John Farrell, aged 21, who suffered leg injuries and shock.

Three other men suffered minor injuries and were discharged after treatment, while a seventh man escaped injury.