Momentary lapses bring watery conclusions

DEREK QUINN Kapiti Observer

COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE: A car is retrieved from Wellington Harbour near Eastbourne. The driver had been distracted.

WATER FEATURE: The driver of this car put his foot on the wrong pedal and landed in the Waikanae River.

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Two drivers escaped serious injury after their cars plunged into Wellington waterways within minutes of each other.

At 1.13pm yesterday a white Nissan Cefiro stationwagon careened into Wellington harbour, falling more than two metres on to rocks near Eastbourne.

About two minutes later a car ended up in the Waikanae River after the driver accidentally put his foot on the accelerator.

Acting Sergeant Bob Jones said the Eastbourne crash was caused by driver inattention and speed was not a factor.

The driver, in his 40s, was heading north along Marine Drive when he was distracted and his car left the road at a point before Days Bay, Mr Jones said.

The driver got out of the upturned car himself with only a small cut or bruise on his face, but it is likely he will face charges.

"It was a lack of attention for a split second and the car fell down about 2.5 metres and straight on to rocks. He's very lucky because it could have been a lot worse. If he had been trapped in that car anything could have happened."

In the other crash, Paraparaumu Station Officer Gary Johnstone said the driver had been manoeuvring in the car park at Otaihanga Reserve, between Paraparaumu and Waikanae.

"He put his foot on the wrong pedal and ended up in the drink. He was checked by ambulance but didn't appear to be hurt."

There were no passengers in either car.