Central District road toll at 8-year high

BY JONATHON HOWE

Last updated 12:00 12/11/2009

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More people have died on Central District roads this year than anywhere else in New Zealand, with the road toll now at its highest level since 2001.

Fifty-two people have died in 44 crashes in the Central Police District, which includes Palmerston North, New Plymouth, Horowhenua and Wanganui, this year.

There were 35 deaths on Central District roads at the same time last year.

The Bay of Plenty police district has the next highest road toll so far this year, with 50 deaths, followed by Waikato with 37 and Waitemata with 35.

Of the 52 deaths, 22 drivers, 17 passengers, seven motorcyclists, five pedestrians and one cyclist were killed.

The worst months were February with 10 deaths and September with 9, while the 25 to 39 age group accounted for 14 of the deaths.

A record low of 40 people died on Central District roads last year but police analysts have predicted about 60 deaths this year if the fatal crashes continue at the same rate.

The worst year in recent times for the Central District was 1997 when 74 people were killed on the roads.

The high number of deaths has frustrated Central District road policing manager Inspector Neil Wynne, but he said there was often no rhyme nor reason to how the crashes occurred.

"They have been spasmodic. Alcohol has played a large part, speed has played a large part and indeed inattention."

"But some of the crashes we've had so far make you think `how did this happen?"'

The Central District was a large area with high traffic volumes and numerous state highways, which also had five crashes involving multiple fatalities this year, he said.

Open road driving was another area of concern as 32 of the deaths took place on state highways.

"We really drive along in a daze," Mr Wynne said.

"It's a matter of `hey, take a break and pull off to the side of the road'. How many times have people driven through to Otaki and thought `hell, what happened to Foxton'?

"It's the old story of everybody on the road is an idiot except for me."

Although the road toll was high, Mr Wynne said general driver behaviour in the Central District, especially in relation to speed, had improved this year.

"It's just people thinking, using a bit of common sense," he said.

"I think the new legislation will hopefully be the cause of a reduction in some crashes, more so the telephone legislation, not so much the talking but the texting." With only one fatal crash in October and none in November so far, he hoped the bloated road toll had come to a "grinding halt".

"I would like to think it won't get any higher, but it just happens quickly.

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"As soon as it starts, it stops and as soon as it stops, it starts up again."

There was no easy solution to reducing the road toll, but police would continue to run operations, advertise road safety and be seen on the roads coming up to Christmas, he said. The national road toll as of today was 332.

Fatal year: 52 die on local roads

Since January 1 there have been 44 vehicle crashes in the Central District region, which have claimed the lives of 52 people.

JANUARY

Raymond Douglas Brown, 33, of Levin, hit by a car on State Highway 56, near Levin, on January 1.

Swedish tourist Goran Oskarsson, 50, died on January 1 when his campervan skidded down a 10-metre bank near National Park.

Aaron Marshall, 33, Wellington, crashed his car on the Wanganui River Road on January 1. Fatigue suspected.

Feilding's Jordan Bowler, 17, was thrown from a car on Napier Rd, Palmerston North, on January 11; died January 17.

Briton Gary Stuart Smith, 30, crashed a car on Kahotu Rd, near Opunake, on January 30. Speed and alcohol suspected.

Wayne Roy Peters, 33, and Benjamin Taylor, 25, from Pungarehu, near Opunake, crashed into a stream on January 30. Alcohol and speed suspected.

FEBRUARY

Levin's Thomas and Patricia Priestley, aged 80 and 77, died when their car collided with another car on SH1, north of Peka Peka, on February 1. The driver of the other car, Helen Milne, 25, was also killed.

Tauranga's Kieran Judd, 14, was a passenger in a car that crashed into a ditch near Stratford on February 1; died February 16. Speed suspected.

Elizabeth Annie Verbeet, 78, involved in head-on crash near Manaia on February 12; died February 15.

Levin's Stephen Puketapu, 44, Veronica Skipper, 28, and Apirana Kipa, 7, died when their car collided with a truck and trailer on SH1, near Waitarere Beach Rd, on February 17. Alcohol and speed suspected.

A 54-year-old Palmerston North man, name suppressed, crashed near Awahuri on February 21; died February 22. Alcohol and speed suspected.

Craig Blinkhorne, 34, of Rahotu, crashed his motorcycle on SH3 near Mt Messenger on February 22. Speed suspected.

MARCH

Ian Duff, 76, was in a two-car crash on Punga Punga Valley Rd, near Taumarunui, on March 10; died March 12.

Tahitian tourist Joelle Marguerite Janine Gaiffe, 57, passenger in a head-on crash near Urenui on March 10. Careless driving a factor.

Palmerston North's Joshua David Peters, 19, passenger in a car that crashed into a power pole on SH57, near Shannon, March 13.

Waitarere Beach residents Peter Robert Gamboni, 68, and Noeline Cecelia Gamboni, 64, collided with another car on SH1, near Waitarere Beach Rd, on March 25.

APRIL

Passenger Margaret Glen Clark, 95, crashed Carlton Rd, Wanganui, on April 3.

Palmerston North's Margaret Mary Moffat, 90, crashed head-on at Mt Stewart on April 5.

Okato motorcyclist Jeremy Robert Condor, 28, crashed on Wiremu Rd, near Opunake, on April 17. Speed suspected.

Moped rider Jieun Jung, 29, collided with truck on Palmerston North's Fitzherbert Ave on April 18; died April 29.

Chinese student Rong Cao, 20, passenger in a SH1, Taihape, crash on April 24.

Aaron Joseph Timoti, 29, crashed into post and concrete pole on Tangimoana Rd on April 25. Speed suspected.

MAY

Ian Andrew Clark, 49, was thrown from his motorcycle and struck oncoming camper van on SH4 in the Paraparas, near Wanganui, on May 5.

Wayne Thomas Dinnington, 47, lost control of his motorcycle on Upland Rd, Tarurutangi on May 12.

Passenger Jaryd Bradley Edser, 18, crashed on SH3 between Inglewood and Egmont village on May 17. Alcohol and speed suspected.

Lower Hutt tanker driver Guy Stewart Bach, 48, and pedestrian Stephen Kailahi, 21, Feilding. Both died when the tanker swerved to avoid the pedestrian on SH1 near Ohakea, on May 31.

JUNE

Xizhong `Mark' Zhu, 49, New Plymouth, SH3 near Onaero River Rd, driver plunged over a bank on May 31. Wreck discovered June 18.

Nathan Phillip Conlon, 19, from Feilding, passenger, died June 8 after June 7 collision on JohnF Kennedy Dr, Palmerston North. Alcohol, speed suspected.

JULY

Shaian Luke, 16, passenger in July 2 crash on SH3 near Eltham. No seatbelt and speed suspected.

Adam Leigh Murray, 34, Hawera motorcyclist, crashed into fence at Mawhitiwhiti Rd, Normanby, on July 9. Alcohol suspected.

Jackson Tiatoa, 51, Lower Hutt, rolled truck on SH57 between Linton and Tokomaru, on July 14. Speed suspected.

Jesse Young, 20, from Auroa, struck by a van while fighting with his brother, on the road, on July 15; died July 28.

AUGUST

Maylean Hira Henare, 15, of Raetihi, passenger, involved in crash on Pipiriki-Ratetihi Rd, on August 1. Speed and alcohol suspected.

Jennifer Anne Gleeson, 61, drove into the path of an oncoming truck, on SH3 near Airport Drive, New Plymouth, on August 25.

Paula Marie Wi-Neera, 45, crashed through a road barrier on Eltham Road and plunged into a swollen stream, on August 29. Alcohol, fatigue and distraction suspected.

SEPTEMBER

David Michael Hutchins, 34, collided with a cattle truck on September 3, at Rata, near Hunterville.

Driver Joanne Bowler, 52 and front passenger Faith Bowler, 28, died after overtaking on a blind bend, lost control and collided with a power pole, fence and tree, on September 5, on Railway Rd at Bunnythorpe. Speed suspected.

Jack McMurtrie, 84, pedestrian, struck by a ute on Reids Line East, near Bunnythorpe, on September 9.

Geoffrey Payne, 21, Palmerston North, crashed through bridge railings into the Mangaone Stream, on Pioneer Highway, on September 12; died September 16.

Frank van Kampen, 46, cyclist, died September 18, SH1 Te Horo, when a driver drove struck him. Alcohol suspected.

Linda Jane Manuel, 40, of Rongotea, died when car lost control and hit a concrete bridge on Awahuri Rd, near Feilding, on September 19. Alcohol and speed suspected.

Ross David Grant, 32, of Pahiatua, crashed motorcycle on Apollo Pde, Palmerston North, on September 20. Speed suspected.

Ezra Fleurty, 19, passenger, car collided with a raised post and garden in Ohakune, on September 23. Alcohol suspected.

OCTOBER

Lionel Wroe, 86, pedestrian, stepped into path of a truck on High Street, Bulls, on October 15; died October 16.

CENTRAL DISTRICTS OVERALL ROAD TOLL

1994 - 64

1995 - 62

1996 - 69

1997 - 74

1998 - 59

1999 - 68

2000 - 61