Fatal crash crews are praised

Emergency services combined well while working at the scene of one of the country’s worst-ever road crashes, a police debrief has found.

Seven people died as a result of the tragic head-on crash, which happened just north of Waverley on State Highway Three on June

27.

The road was closed for hours while police, firefighters and ambulance staff dealt with the aftermath.

Waverley residents Ian Porteous, 80, Rosalie Porteous, 76, Ora Keene, 84, and Brenda Williams, 79, who were in the northbound car, as well as eightweek-old Shady Thompson and her father Jeremy Thompson, 28, who were in the south bound vehicle, all died at the scene.

Nivek Madams, 8, Thompson’s step-daughter, later died in hospital while her mother Ani Nohinohi was taken to Wellington Hospital where she remains in a stable condition on a ward.

A police Serious Crash Unit investigation into what caused the crash, which local fire crews described as one of the worst they’ve ever seen, is ongoing and could take months.

It was only the ninth crash to claim five or more lives since

2000.

On Tuesday night Inspector Mark Harrison, Central District HQ, ran the debrief at the Waverley fire station.

It was attended by firefighters, police, St John ambulance staff, NZ Transport Agency representatives, rescue helicopter staff and roading contractors.

Harrison said those present discussed how they had responded to the crash and how agencies had worked together.

‘‘Overall the event went exceptionally well with no major issues identified,’’ he said.

‘‘There were some minor ‘suggestions’ that will improve some aspects of our responses and these will be looked at further – but there were no major issues identified.’’

He said it wasn’t unusual to debrief following major incidents. He described the crash as a significant event in terms of the fatalities and said it had the potential to impact on the community and staff.

‘‘In this case, given the magnitude and national interest in the event we agreed a debrief was appropriate.

‘‘Everyone copes differently and the impact on people is varied – but the debrief also gave senior managers of the agencies the opportunity to make sure staff are aware of the support that is available to responders.’’

Harrison said the meeting, which was well attended, was also an opportunity for police to recognise and thank the volunteers for their contribution.

‘‘Many New Zealanders don’t really appreciate the toll that attending events like this can have on responders and perhaps more so when the responder is a volunteer.

‘‘It was a chance to thank not only the paid police, fire and ambulance responders but more importantly acknowledge those St John and Fire Service volunteers who do this in their own time to support their communities across New Zealand.’’