In a severe motor vehicle accident early yesterday, a man sustained a critical spinal injury after his car skidded off State Highway 1 and plunged 40 meters down a bank near Evansdale. The incident took place on the Kilmog, between Pryde and Porteous Roads, as the region’s first frost of the year turned roads into treacherous icy routes, causing multiple accidents in the Dunedin area.
Emergency services promptly responded to the 8:20 am accident, where the man’s vehicle had rolled numerous times, resulting in him being trapped inside. Fire and emergency crews worked diligently, utilizing cutting tools and a helicopter to winch the 69-year-old victim out of the wreckage. Following the extraction, he was airlifted to Dunedin Hospital in critical condition, before being transferred to Christchurch Hospital for specialized spinal care.
The wintry conditions were accountable for another eight collisions on the same morning. Notably, the accidents included several on the motorway and bridges, though no other injuries were reported outside of the critical incident on the Kilmog.
Authorities emphasized the dangers of black ice, a notorious winter hazard. Inspector Craig Brown, the Southern Road Policing Manager, offered advice to motorists, stressing the importance of slowing down and approaching potentially icy roads with caution. He reassured drivers that the police force was more concerned with safe driving adapted to the treacherous conditions than with issuing speeding tickets.
Source: Otago Daily Times