Smash

This morning, I was driving along Ngatiawa Road towards Waikanae on some errands, when a car approaching from the other side sped past me not only at an alarming pace, but also making full use of the limited width of the road. Although my eyesight isn’t quite what it used to be, I think that ,my judgement of distances and road widths is still fairly reliable. I don’t panic under such circumstances, but I certainly, albeit sub-consciously, slow down ever so slightly.

On 21 May 2013, the Dominion Post carried the following report:

“  Road Reopens After Crash:   Police have reopened Akatarawa Rd after a crash that saw a car roll down a bank at the southern end of the road linking Kapiti and Upper Hutt. In Kapiti the road was closed this afternoon at the intersection of Akatarawa Rd and Ngatiawa Rd about five minutes from Waikanae. Police say there were no injuries in the crash, and emergency services have now recovered the vehicle.” 

A while after moving to Reikorangi, whilst on a walk along Ngatiawa Road, we encountered a rusty old wreck of what used to be a creamy-white car on a steep embankment wedged against some large pine trees. It should serve as a warning notice to irresponsible motorists, but no doubt not may will have seen the remains, as it is only visible to those on foot, and even then, only to someone who happens to peer down in the correct spot.

Back to my errand trip to Waikanae this morning: A I approach the end of Ngatiawa, where it joins Reikorangi Road (just around the corner from St Andrew’s Church), a flat-bed pick-up truck was parked half across the road with warning flashers on. A tree was apparently being loaded onto the truck. Strange, they usually cut up trees before transporting away. Three of four men stood around in attendance or observing.

I stopped awaiting the instruction to proceed. That’s when I saw the grey car, similar to our Toyota. It was parked against the tree trunk down in the ditch two or three metres below road level. Parked unintentionally. He had crashed… The truck was not collecting a slain tree, it was collecting a slain car!

(Above): Ok, so I’m a poor journalist for travelling without a camera… Google Earth helps here to show the sleep downhill (my red line) from the junction at the top, around which many drivers descend at far too high a speed. The road was not wet.

I drove the remaining 5 km to Waikanae a lot slower. Just imagine: you’re driving a perfectly good car in perfectly good condition. Through irresponsibility or sheer bad luck, moments later, you’re not driving anymore, and your car is no longer in pristine condition. And your bank balance will shortly be depleted…

(Above): The view of the blind rise down to the left from the other side, coming from Waikanae. In the distance up Akatarawa Road, the red-roofed St Andrew’s can be seen. 

You might have had passengers with you, and you may have been standing on the roadside with someone’s untimely accidental death on your conscience for the rest of your life. Careful driving is not difficult.

When I returned from my errands, the only signs of a crash was the damaged tree trunk…