Damp adieu for sailors

Press, 26 October 1982, Page 2

Damp adieu for sailors

As the Canadian destroyer H.M.C.S. MacKenzie slipped out of Port Nelson yesterday, four of her Crew had an excellent view of a section of the waterfront they will long remember. A rental car carrying the four was returning to the ship about 3.30 a.m. when it left Wakefield Quay on a slight bend opposite Richardson Street. The vehicle ploughed through four sections of decorative iron chain and stanchions before dropping about four metres to the seabed below. Fortunately, the tide was almost out and the vehicle landed on its roof in' only a few centimetres of water. During the present high spring tides at Nelson, the water at this point is usually at least 2.5 metres deep.

A police car patrol spotted the vehicle within a minute of the accident and the men were extricated. None was injured but all four were severely shaken. The ’ vehicle, owned byMutual Rentals, is a writeoff. It was one of 11 accidents reported to the Ministry of Transport in the Nelson district during the week-end. Five people were admitted either to Nelson Hospital or Murchison Hospital. None was reported to be seriously hurt. Two of those admitted were in an accident about 10km north of Murchison. The driver is thought to have fallen asleep at the wheel after driving 12 hours nonstop from Alexandra to try to get to Nelson early on Saturday.