Crash left car ‘hanging off bridge’

THE main highway south of Dunedin was closed for about 10 hours yesterday after a crash left a car ‘‘hanging off’’ the Taieri River bridge.

It follows a spate of crashes, drinkdriving and dangerous driving incidents over the Labour Weekend.

Senior Sergeant Nick Leigh, of Dunedin, said although it was encouraging to have the majority of motorists travelling safely over the long weekend, it was ‘‘incredibly disappointing’’ to see some people risk their lives and those of other road users through excessive speed, or driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol.

‘‘A number of drivers were found to be impaired, including several two or three times above the legal limit.’’

He said road safety was everyone’s responsibility.

‘‘It’s not about getting to your destination quickly, but rather getting there safely,’’ Snr Sgt Leigh advised motorists.

Police were called to about 13 drivingrelated incidents between Friday and Monday — there was no end to that yesterday morning.

A single vehicle crashed on the Taieri River bridge on State Highway 1, near Henley, about 4.35am.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) said two crews responded and found the car ‘‘hanging off’’ the bridge. The driver received minor injuries.

The road was reopened about 2.20pm after a crane removed the vehicle and a bridge assessment was completed.

Later, two separate crashes happened on the Southern Motorway, near Barnes Dr.

A twocar crash, at 7.50am, blocked the road while emergency services responded to the ‘‘nose to tail’’ crash on the northbound lane, a Fenz spokesman said.

Noone was injured and there was minor damage to the cars.

A second crash happened when a vehicle fleeing police left the road, knocked down a power pole and ended up in a bush at the side of the road, about 12pm.

On Friday afternoon, police attended five incidents involving car crashes or dangerous driving including a car that rolled about 15 times in Whareakeake Rd, at 4pm.

Acting Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond said a 50yearold man and 30yearold man were in the car and the driver would appear in the Dunedin District Court for careless driving causing injury.

The court date was unknown. A further three crashes and three drinkdriving incidents followed on Saturday, including a crash in District Rd, in Green Island, about 2.30pm.

Snr Sgt Bond said a 39yearold man and 24yearold woman who were involved in the crash got into another vehicle, swapped drivers and drove away from the scene.

Both recorded over 900mcg when stopped by police

Earlier, a vehicle was seen crossing the centre line on State Highway 87, near Lee Stream, and a 54yearold man recorded a breathalcohol level of 1363mcg — about five times the limit.

Despite being suspended from driving and being driven home by police, a short time later the man accessed another vehicle to drive, he said.

The man will appear in the Dunedin District Court tomorrow, facing two drinkdriving charges and one for driving while suspended.

There was a further drinkdriving incident, in Law St, on Sunday and car crash, in Ravenswood Rd, on Monday.