Load of timber crashes on family in car

Press, 9 November 1983, Page 2

Load of timber crashes on family in car

PA . Dunedin Only a baby girl escaped 1 injury when a family of five returning from holiday had its car crushed by tonnes of Australian jarrah timber crashing from a truck and trailer in Central Otago on Monday. The timber fell on to the car on a tight stretch of road on State highway 8. Mr Stuart Mathieson, the father of the family, is seriously ill in the intensivecare ward of Dunedin Hospital with abdominal and rib injuries; ; His wife, Anna, is also in intensive care and is in a critical condition with a broken neck.

The couple’s eldest daughter, Gemma, aged 11, has concussion and was admitted for observation. The other child,, admitted on

Monday night, Lucy, aged eight, is seriously ill with a broken skull and leg.

The accident happened at 4.45 p.m. between Millers Flat and Raes Junction where State highway 8 runs beside the Clutha River. “It was 15km to 20km from Roxburgh where the road goes through a series of tight bends,” said the Roxburgh policeman, Constable J. C. Cannell, yesterday. The truck was carrying packets of sawn timber, said Constable Cannell. The 15-tonne load on the trailer came off as the truck rounded a corner. The packets of timber crashed on to the road and then ploughed into the oncoming car, said Constable CannelL Firemen had trouble cutting Mr and Mrs Mathieson out of the wrecked car. Three ambulances, from Roxburgh, Alexandra, and Dunedin, were used to bring the family to Dunedin.