Icy roads cause spate of crashes

Dunedin drivers and icy roads kept emergency services busy yesterday morning after a series of crashes, one of which left a person with serious injuries.

A police spokeswoman said officers were called to a two-car crash at the intersection of Challis St and Glendevon Pl, just off Larnach Rd, about 7.45am.

One person received serious injuries, the spokeswoman said.

Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond, of Dunedin, said the crash happened when a 69-year-old woman allegedly failed to give way and her vehicle collided with a car coming up the hill.

The spokeswoman said officers were also called to reports that a truck had slid on ice at the corner near the bridge in Townleys Rd, Kenmure, and became stuck on a barrier, about 8.05am.

Nobody was injured. A heavier truck was involved in a similar incident shortly afterwards, she said.

Police officers and firefighters attend the scene of a crash in Larnach Rd where one person was...
Police officers and firefighters attend the scene of a crash in Larnach Rd where one person was injured yesterday. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON
A representative from Adams plumbing company described the scene as "carnage", and while nobody was hurt, the company’s light truck was slightly damaged in the crash.

Tru-Bilt Industries operations manager Paul Taylor watched the scene unfold from across Kaikorai Valley.

The first truck coming down the hill spun through 360 degrees, crashed into the barrier and caused a blockage in the lane, Mr Taylor said.

A van carrying three people rolled into the Kaikorai Estuary after slipping on black ice in...
A van carrying three people rolled into the Kaikorai Estuary after slipping on black ice in Brighton Rd. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY

The larger truck tried going up the hill on the wrong side of the road, but lost traction with its wheels spinning on the black ice.

Just before the crash, the weather had taken a turn for the worse and it had started to rain.

Loss of traction was an ongoing issue on the road throughout the year as whenever the road got wet, trucks started losing traction, Mr Taylor said.

Slippery conditions caused delays to traffic and a truck to crash in Townleys Rd yesterday. PHOTO...
Slippery conditions caused delays to traffic and a truck to crash in Townleys Rd yesterday. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY
Snr Sgt Bond said officers were called to a crash in Brighton Rd, Waldronville, after a van rolled on the Southern Scenic Route about 7.35am.

Three people were taken to Dunedin Hospital with injuries as a precaution but none were seriously hurt.

A police spokeswoman said the road had been icy and the council had been contacted to provide grit.

A Dunedin City Council spokeswoman said contractors were out gritting some roads and treating them with the de-icing agent CMA on Monday night.

An early-morning rain shower and freezing temperatures affected many roads throughout the city which were not normal ice hotspots.

Motorists were reminded to allow extra time, care and attention when driving in cold weather, which was expected to last the rest of the week, the police spokeswoman said.

 

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