Wayward car at rest on headstone

An old, crumbling headstone in the Waitati Cemetery was further damaged on Thursday night when a car landed on it, police say.

The car was still stuck on the headstone yesterday when police arrived after the occupants called a local towing company requesting a tow, Senior Sergeant Mel Aitken, of Dunedin, said.

The car's two occupants, who appeared to be intoxicated when officers arrived, said the vehicle had skidded in wet grass when they tried to turn in a driveway in the cemetery and had ended up on top of the headstone, she said.

The pair told police they then began drinking alcohol they had with them and had stayed in the cemetery overnight.

The headstone was not significantly damaged and the car was removed yesterday.

No charges would be laid.

• Police have found the owner of two stamp albums which had been held at the Dunedin Police Station since they were seized in 2007.

Information from the public since police sought publicity for the albums last week had been a great help in locating the Dunedin owner, Senior Sergeant Craig Brown, of Dunedin said.

In particular, the association of the first day covers relating to health camps with the name of two people, had been particularly useful, he said.

The stamps dated back to the 1940s.

The owner, who did not want to be named, was grateful for the return of the albums, Snr Sgt Brown said.

- debbie.porteous@odt.co.nz

 

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