Sadness at father’s loss in accident

A DAUGHTER has spoken of her loss after a road accident near Milton on Friday.

Jenny Robbie, of Clinton, said her father Desmond ‘‘Des’’ Gent was a gentle man who would be missed sorely by family and friends.

She confirmed her father died after his car and a truck collided on State Highway 1 near Lakeside Rd near Crichton, about 2pm on Friday.

The driver of the truck, which was a Septic Tank Services vehicle, was shocked but unhurt by the incident, and no other vehicles were involved.

Mrs Robbie said the family was aware of what had caused the accident, but did not wish to elaborate.

She said the death of her father, a retired beekeeper from Stirling, would leave a big gap in the lives of those who knew him.

‘‘He was a very kind man, very thoughtful and caring of his family. We’ll miss him.’’

Mr Gent (67) leaves behind two daughters and three grandchildren.

She expressed relief noone else had been hurt, and extended her sympathies to the truck driver.

A service for Mr Gent will be held in Balclutha on April 24, at 1.30pm.

A 26yearold Oamaru man remains in Dunedin Hospital with serious injuries after being thrown from his vehicle after a singlevehicle crash in Oamaru on Sunday morning.

Emergency services were called to the scene in Ardgowan Rd at 5.41am after it was reported a vehicle had left the road and become stuck in a ditch. A police spokeswoman said it appeared the driver and sole occupant had lost control of the vehicle before it drifted off the road and rolled.

The driver was assessed by St John staff at the scene before being transported to Dunedin Hospital with serious chest injuries.

Police were yet to release the name of the person killed in a singlevehicle crash when a northbound vehicle hit a power pole on State Highway 1 near Makikihi about 4.15am on Sunday.

Alpine Energy confirmed 41 properties in the Hook, Hook Swamp Rd, Kingsbury Rd, Lower Hook Rd and surrounding areas lost power as a result of the crash.

In Southland police said investigations into two serious crashes at the weekend were ongoing.

On Saturday evening, a motorcyclist was killed between Findlayson and Boundary Rds, near Invercargill.

Police are looking for information in relation to a second crash where a man was hit by a vehicle on a pedestrian crossing in Riverton. Riverton police (03) 2347070; Crimestoppers, 0800 555111.