Kaiapoi man dies in crash

Press, 4 August 1987, Page 2

Kaiapoi man dies in crash

An elderly man driving a Mini van died in a headon collision with a Christchurch Transport Board bus just north of Christchurch yesterday. He was Cecil John Palmer, aged 73, retired, of Kaiapoi.

Two occupants of the bus, Muriel Turner, aged 67, of Wainonl Road, and Marjorie Brown, aged 76, of Redbridge Lane, were taken to Christchurch Hospital where they were treated for minor injuries and discharged.

The collision occurred about 10 a.m. on the Main North Road near the intersection with Radcliffe Road, about 800 m north of the Styx Mill Bridge.

The Mini was written off when it struck the right front part of the Kaiapoi-bound bus and became wedged underneath.

Firemen had to cut free Mr Palmer, who was the sole occupant of the van. A fox terrier travelling with him was thrown from the van and taken

for veterinarian treatment by bystanders. Mr Lindsay Frazer, of the Rangiora Veterinary Clinic, said the animal, aged about six or seven, had suffered two fractures to a front leg and a broken jaw. There was bruising around one eye and signs of concussion. Mr Frazer said the dog had been given first aid and drugs to ease its discomfort He said Mr Palmer’s relatives would have to determine the fate of the animal.

"With these sort of problems pretty major surgery is Involved to return it to a normal lifestyle. I am not really in a position to go ahead.” He said the fox terrier needed surgery to attach plates to its jaw and leg. The accident disrupted traffic for about two hours. Vehicles heading north were diverted west along Styx Mill Road while southbound traffic filed past the accident scene in a single lane.