Storm causes fatal accident

Press, 23 December 1986, Page 8

Storm causes fatal accident

PA Auckland A youth was killed when his Fiat Bambina car was blown into oncoming traffic during a violent storm in Auckland on Sunday. He was Nathan Louis Stevens, aged 15, a student, of Mt Wellington. He was driving on the Pakuranga Highway about 6.45 p.m. on Sunday when wind gusts caused him to veer across the road and collide with two oncoming cars, said the Ministry of Transport. Transport, fire and electricity workers reported extensive storm damage throughout Auckland. The Coastguard reported “horrendous” conditions during the weekend. A spokesman, Peter

Hamling, said many boats came off moorings as high seas and northerlies gusting to nearly 80km/h hit the coast.

A tropical depression was responsible for the week-end’s storm, the Weather Office said. In the 24 hours until 9 a.m. yesterday, 26.7 mm of rain fell in Auckland. Part of the Devonport ferry The Kestrel’s structure was smashed in the rough weather and the ferry was out of service yesterday. The storm cut power in most parts of the region as feeder lines were broken by falling trees. In the Waitemata area the storm also damaged the power board’s hot water control system andsome households were without their normal quantities of hot water.