Cool driver averts high bus toll

Press, 5 December 1988, Page 8

Cool driver averts high bus toll

PA Gisborne A bus carrying about 40 people turned on to its side 25km north-west of Gisborne on Saturday, but quick thinking by the driver averted a more serious accident.

Five passengers — two adults and three children — were taken to hospital by ambulance for treatment for minor injuries. The driver, Moana Paratene, received 16 stitches for a cut to the hand. “The driver did extremely well,” Traffic Officer Bill Cronin said at the scene — Ngatapa Hill on Wharekopae Road. “He kept his cool and as a result averted a lot of injury.”

More than 20 children were in the bus, which was returning from the Manutuke Volunteer Fire Brigade’s Christmas Party at Rere Falls about 4 p.m.

A fireman, Malcolm Haskins, said passengers were alerted to the danger when Mr Paratene yelled out that he had “lost the brakes.” With a steep drop on the left-hand side of the road, Mr Paratene steered the bus into the side of the hill on the other side of the road to slow down. Further down the hill he steered the bus into the hill again and this time it stopped and, “in slow motion,” tipped on to its side.

“The kids were frightened and upset but no-one was seriously hurt; that was a relief,” Mr Haskins said.

Mr Paratene is the Manutuke Volunteer Fire Brigade’s deputy and, although he earns his living farming at Manutuke 10km south-west of Gisborne, has truck and busdriving experience.