Driver was combing hair

Press, 23 November 1987, Page 3

Driver was combing hair

A woman. driver swerved into the path of an oncoming police police car near Rolleston on Saturday morning, forcing it off the road where it collided with a power pole.

Witnesses told the police the woman was combing her hair while looking in the rear-view mirror when she swerved across the road. The accident occurred just before 9 a.m. as Constable William Chamberlain was driving a Ford Sierra waggon north on State Highway 1. Constable Tony Bird was his front seat passenger. Heading towards them was a 1964 to 1966 olive green Morris 1100 driven

by a woman aged in her twenties. The Morris served into the path of the police car, forcing Constable Chamberlain to brake and swerve right to avoid a head-on collision. “His vehicle smashed into a lamp-post on the other side of the road,” said Sergeant Tony Tully, who is investigating the accident. Constable Chamberlain is thought to have been knocked unconscious for a short time when his head hit the windscreen. He was admitted to Christchurch Hospital with cuts to his head, and neck and shoulder injuries. He is expected to remain in hospital several days. The woman driver, who

had fair or blond hair and a number of studs in her left ear, did not stop.

“She probably panicked and continued driving, although she might not have been aware the police had been in an accident,” said Sergeant Tully.

Constable Bird, who escaped with only a bruised hip from his seat belt, said swerving across the white line was the only thing Constable Chamberlain could have done. “It all happened so fast. “It was a horrible feeling watching that lamppost coming up when there was nothing you could do about it.” Constable Bird said that once his partner had swerved he was committed to get off the road to avoid a head-on smash with cars following the

Morris. They were unable to swerve left, he said. “She was coming up really wide. I certainly thought she was just going to keep on going wider.” The police have interviewed a husband and wife who were following behind the woman. “Two independent witnesses travelling behind the Morris have stated that they are positive the female driver was combing her hair in the mirror and her attention was diverted from the road,” said Sergeant Tully.

The husband even commented about it to his wife, before the accident, said Sergeant Tully. The police are keen to speak with the woman and are following several lines of inquiry.