‘Rusty’ first aid skills reactivate at crash scene
A former Defence Force medic was among the first people on the scene of a serious crash near Kaiko¯ ura that closed State Highway 1 for hours yesterday.
The main link between Picton and Christchurch was closed for about six hours near the Clarence River, north of Kaiko¯ ura, causing traffic to back up about 3 kilometres in either direction. Police were called to the crash about 9.30am. The highway reopened about 3.30pm.
Karis Da Silva said she helped stabilise one of the crash victims at the scene of the truck and ute crash. Da Silva applied a tourniquet to the driver of the ute.
‘‘There was a lot of bleeding ... I’m really glad we got the tourniquet on,’’ she said.
Da Silva said a passenger got out of the vehicle and ‘‘seemed all right’’ but the former medic identified internal injuries, possible cracked ribs causing difficulty breathing.
‘‘They both needed urgent care when I left the scene,’’ Da Silva said. ‘‘It’s been a while, I felt a bit rusty.’’ Da Silva, who was reluctant to be named, said: ‘‘I really hope [the patients] are OK.’’
One patient in a critical condition was flown to Wellington Hospital.
Another patient in a moderate condition was flown to Christchurch Hospital.
A Christchurch Hospital spokesman said the patient was in a ‘‘comfortable condition’’.
Christchurch Transport Operations Centre senior travel information adviser Steven Mann said the road reopened about 3.30pm. ‘‘We would expect it would probably take around half an hour for the traffic to move on through.’’
Mann said contractors on the scene told him traffic backed up for about 3 kilometres on both sides at its worst.
He said traffic going through the Lewis Pass detour was free flowing throughout the day.
Marlborough Highway Patrol’s Constable Andy Holmes said a southbound truck and trailer and a northbound ute collided. The trailers of the truck blocked the road.
‘‘All we can say at this stage, until it’s been fully investigated, is that there’s been a collision between a northbound and southbound vehicle and that we’ve got some occupants with serious injuries,’’ Holmes said.
One person was seriously injured, the others had less serious injuries, Holmes said.
At least one person was trapped in the ute and was cut out, he said. The truck driver was uninjured. Three rescue helicopters attended.
Misty, drizzling weather kept most people in their cars, but did not stop some from trying to look at the accident.