Six in hospital after three-car pile-up
BY JEFF TOLLAN
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Six people taken to hospital after a three-car pile-up on a wet State Highway 1 were lucky not to have been more seriously injured, police say.
Traffic had to be diverted, causing delays and queues, after the collision at the corner of the Timaru-Temuka Highway and Kennels Rd, near Phar Lap Raceway, about 9am yesterday.
Timaru Hospital Clinical Services general manager Christine Nolan said three children (a boy and two girls), a woman and two men were taken to hospital. The children were all in a "comfortable condition" and the adults were stable.
Senior Constable JA McIlraith, of Timaru, said the drivers were yet to be spoken to, though it was possible the wet weather had played a part in the crash.
A Holden travelling south had stopped to turn right into Kennels Rd, when it was hit from behind by a Ford, and pushed into the path of a northbound Honda CRV. The driver of the Honda had to be cut from the car by the Washdyke fire brigade.
The section of road where the crash happened is a 100kmh area and Mrs McIlraith said it was surprising the injuries were not worse. "I think in situations like that you get very serious injuries; they were very, very lucky."
Mrs McIlraith said drivers were within the law to stop in the middle of the road if they were indicating to turn right. While it was not clear what caused the crash, she said it was possible the wet conditions and inattention were contributing factors.
The road was shut for about half an hour.
It was the worst of three collisions dealt with by police in the area yesterday.
A driver parked near the corner of Cambridge St in Timaru opened his car door, which was collected by a passing car. Later there was minor collision at the corner of Westcott and Pacific streets.
- © Fairfax NZ News
