Wednesday, 17 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCommonwealth GamesCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
New Zealand

Bodies strewn on road 'looked like animals'

17 Jul, 2010 04:00 PM2 minutes to read
Herald on Sunday
By Kiri Gillespie

A team of rugby players who arrived on the scene moments after a horror car smash that left five children badly hurt thought at first that the bodies strewn across the highway were animals.

An 11-year-old girl was fighting for her life in Auckland's Starship Hospital last night while four other children under nine - including an 11-month old baby - were in a stable condition in hospital. A 34-year-old woman who was driving the car was also being treated for moderate injuries.

Witnesses said their Mitsubishi Pajero crashed into a traffic barrier on a stretch of SH2 at Pukehina, 37km northwest of Whakatane, and flipped twice, before ploughing through a fence and rolling to a stop in a field.

The Pajero's wheels were still spinning when Tauranga's Te Puna rugby team arrived in one of the first vehicles on the scene, manager Tony Rolleston said.

"It looked like animals or dogs on the road but it turned out to be three kids. Two were in the middle of the road and a baby, not even a year old, was off to left hand side," Rolleston said.

The team, travelling to Whakatane for an afternoon match, found a young girl who had been flung at least 5m over the barrier at the side of the road, another child lying in the paddock and the mother who was still at the wheel of the Pajero.

Team members went to the baby who was crying and screaming, stranded on the road.

Rolleston said: "The baby was moving around, wriggling and flapping its arms about. One of the guys grabbed the baby because it was so distressed and tried to calm it. It seemed to be moving OK. It didn't seem to be in too much harm. The other two were fairly still though."

The players offered the children their hooded jackets to keep them warm and moved the baby and children from the road to the paddock. Others worked to stop traffic and call emergency services.

The partner of the injured woman said two of her children were among those injured.

Local resident Heneri Ngatai who has lived near the crash site for several years, said the road was notorious for crashes.

The crash occurred on a bend that has a 65km/h speed warning and double yellow lines.

Related articles

New Zealand

Eighteen injured in two Bay of Plenty crashes

17 Jul 05:33 AM
New Zealand

Teens survive horror van crash

17 Jul 04:00 PM
New Zealand

Teen in BOP crash leaves hospital

19 Jul 01:24 AM
New Zealand

Tired mother's brush with tragedy

23 Jul 04:00 PM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand|Crime

10-week Mongols gang trial to begin in Hamilton

17 Aug 04:45 AM
New ZealandUpdated

Live: Evacuations in Nelson after river breaches banks; weather warnings upgraded for Auckland

17 Aug 05:07 AM
Kahu

Matariki holiday a defining moment: Now time to change NZ to Aotearoa

17 Aug 05:00 AM
New Zealand

Death of tramper sparks changes to DOC volunteer hut warden training

17 Aug 04:17 AM
New Zealand|Politics

Auckland mayoral race: Viv Beck promises $200m to address congestion

17 Aug 04:46 AM

Most Popular

Adrian Orr fronts media after RBNZ hikes OCR by 50bp
Business

Adrian Orr fronts media after RBNZ hikes OCR by 50bp

17 Aug 02:00 AM
'Incredibly unsettling': Police update on suitcase homicide mystery
New Zealand|Crime

'Incredibly unsettling': Police update on suitcase homicide mystery

17 Aug 01:32 AM
Premium
NZ's highest paid CEO: Fletcher boss takes home $6.58m
Business

NZ's highest paid CEO: Fletcher boss takes home $6.58m

17 Aug 01:04 AM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP