Home of the mystery Y discovered
A freak crash, where a metal letter smashed through a van windscreen, is likely linked to vandalism at a town cemetery.
A metal Y missing from an entrance sign at Feilding Cemetery is almost certainly the same alphabet evidence police found at the scene of a November 1 crash when a mystery object smashed through the van’s front and rear windscreen.
Two people were travelling on Awahuri-Feilding Rd near Palmerston North when the object was reportedly thrown from an oncoming vehicle. One of them needed hospital treatment for injuries.
Manawatū mayor Helen Worboys is adamant it is the same metal Y missing from the entrance sign at Feilding Cemetery.
Worboys said she was shocked by the vandalism at the cemetery gate, and by the potentially-fatal incident it caused.
‘‘It’s just senseless. I’m just relieved to hear that the two people are relatively unharmed.
‘‘Seeing the damage that was caused to the vehicle, we’re very lucky that we’re not talking about one or both being seriously injured or killed.’’
Worboys said anyone who knew who was responsible for the damage or had evidence connecting people to what happened should contact the police.
The police media centre has not provided a photo of the letter Y that was found near the crash scene to confirm whether it is a match.
But council staff had been in touch with police and expected it would be returned this week.
Worboys said it was ‘‘incredibly disappointing’’ anyone would deliberately damage community assets.
The cemetery was a special place for many residents who had loved ones buried there.
Vandals had also recently damaged the town’s new Kōwhai Park playground.
‘‘These are community assets that our residents have paid for, and they should be treated with more respect.’’