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Eleven hurt by truck rolling over at Wigram

Eleven people were taken to hospital when a shingle truck carrying spectators failed to take a bend on Wigram Road and rolled over after the Wigram car-racing meeting on 29 January 1978. A family of five walking along the road was buried under hay bales from the truck. Police and ambulance staff otherwise reported good behaviour, with one drunkenness arrest and a man who drove nearly a full circuit of the track before being stopped.

Facts

  • The accident happened about 6 p.m. on 29 January 1978 on Wigram Road between Dunbars Road and Carrs Road; the three-ton shingle truck had been used as a grandstand by Lincoln College students.
  • St John Ambulance had 50 officers and four first-aid posts at the 1978 Wigram meeting; about 20 people needed minor treatment.
  • Two competitors were taken to hospital after injuries in two races at the 1978 Wigram meeting.
  • A man was breath-tested after driving his car around the Wigram race track about half an hour before the finish of the 1978 meeting; no race was running at the time.

Photos

  • Peter Stuyvesant series winner Keke Rosberg at the Wigram prize-giving.
Read the OCR text
Eleven hur by truck rolling over at Wi gram Eleven persons were taken to hospital when a truck laden with spectators failed to take a bend and rolled on to a family of five, alter the car-racing meeting at Wigram yes. terday. The family - parents, two children, and a baby - all suffered injuries, some senous. The three children nave been admitted to the Christchurch Hospital. They are Joshua, Daniel, and Benjamin Tucker of Wigram Road. Their condition was not available late last evening. Their mother, Barbara Jo! Tucker. was admitted ir the Burwood Hospital wirh moderately serious head and upper limb injuries Her condition last evening was given as sat- Is! actory. Ihe father, John Tucker. has been admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital. Information on his condition and the nature of his injuries was not available late last evening. Two other persons have been admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital. They are Nicholas Weston, aged 21, of 72 South Belt Road, Lincoln, who suffered moderately serious head injuries: and lan Elken, aged 19, of Edwards Street, Lincoln, who is in a satisfactory condition with head and upper limb injuries. Three other young persons were treated at the Christchurch Hospital and discharged. The accident occurred about 6 p.m. on a bend in Wigram Road between Dunbars Road and Carrs Road. The Tucker family, who were walking along Wig- Tam Road, were covered with bales of hay from the truck when it rolled over. They were pulled from the jumble of bales and couches which fell from the truck's tray. The baby's pram was ried the injured from the accident scene. One ambulance man at the scene said: "It was lucky nobody was killed." The three-ton shingle truck, which had provided a grandstand at the carracing for a group of Lincoin College students, came to rest on its roof against a telegraph pole. Apart from the accident, few incidents and generally good behaviour by the public were reported by emergency services. Although traffe was very heavy after the meeting. it was kent moving quickly by traffic officers and was mainly cleared half an hour after the last race. The police made one arrest - ifor drunkenness - during the meeting, and another man was given a breath test after he drove his car around the race track about half an hour before the finish. A police spokesman said that the man drove nearly - a full circuit of the race track before he was stopped by officers. No race was being run at the time The St John Ambulance Brigade had 50 officers on duty at the meeting and four first-aid posts, but they aiso reported a fairly quiet day, only 20 persons requiring treatment minor cuts and abrasions. Nobody needed treatment for heat effects. Two competitors were taken to hospital for treatment after they were in jured in two of the races. As well as the heavy traffic to and from Wigram, roads in and out of Christchurch were congested by cars and caravans bringing people back from holiday and with day. trippers to northern beaches. The Ministry of Transport said that although traffic was heavy all day, no problems arose. Traffic was congested at Tavlors Mistake. where lack of parking spaces for the crowds of visitors yesterday caused people to park their cars along the narrow road leading to the bay. blocking two-way traffic: The Ministry of Transport sent extra patrols to clear the road. auen IPSON Peter Outreans Yes els hotte of ammpaster dad had anonder poured ander tis the l by the serie winner. Heke Rosherg, at the Wigram prize-giving. 30-9-78

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