Car hits pole; youth killed

Press, 10 April 1978, Page 1

Car hits pole; youth killed

A Rakaia youth was killed on the DromoreMethven Road on Saturday when the car he was driving struck a power pole. He was Evan Craig Spiers, aged 19, Of 48 Mackie Street, Rakaia.

Of three other youths in the car, David Culling, of Dunford Street. Rakaia, was taken to the Christchurch Hospital, and admitted to the intensivecare unit, where his conditon is reported as comfortable.

Bruce Aiister Blair, aged 16, of 28 Bowen Street, Rakaia, was admitted to the Ashburton Hospital for observation. A hospital spokesman said that he was comfortable and progressing favourably. The other youth, David John Mclntyre, aged 15, of 52 Dunford Street, Rakaia, suffered minor injuries, but was not admitted to hsopital. The accident happend at 4.40 p.m. on the DromoreMethven road, one kilometre west of State highwav 1.

The Ashburton Fire Brigade’s “jaws of life” cutting apparatus possibly saved its first life when it cut open the car. The brigade was called

to the accident after police and ambulance staff could not free the driver and one of the occupants from the car.

The “jaws of life” was presented to the Ashburton Fire Brigade by the Ashburton Jaycees at the end of 1977. This was the first time the equipment had been used at a motor accident.

Saturday’s fatality brought to five the number of people killed on Mid-Canterbury roads this year. Sergeant L. G. Tooman, of the Ministry of Transport in Ashburton, said 1 that four of the five killed had been under the age of 20. All accidents had occurred between 4 p.m. and 6.30 p.m.