Flying road sign hits oncoming vehicle

A Christchurch woman is considering herself lucky she avoided injury after a large roadworks sign was picked up by the wind and crashed into the front of her moving car.

Michelle Stevens was travelling on Main South Rd from Rolleston to Christchurch when the sign hit her car head-on about 6pm on Wednesday, leaving her ‘‘shaken’’.

She tried to swerve to avoid the sign, but could not because of traffic congestion, she said.

‘‘A big road sign came flying from the other side of the road and flew towards the front of the car. It wasn’t until I got home that I could check for damage. My headlights have been taken out, so has the front bumper and guards.’’

A NZ Transport Agency spokesman said the matter should be taken up with the motorist’s insurance company.

‘‘In extreme wind conditions as we experienced on Wednesday, branches and other material can land on cars . . . It is then over to the insurance company. If they think the sign was inadequately fastened and think they can prove it, they may want to go back to the contractor,’’ he said.

The flying sign belonged to construction company Downer, which is building an overbridge for stage two of the Christchurch Southern Motorway.

A Downer spokeswoman said she recommended the driver discuss it with their insurance company. ‘‘Downer would then work with the insurance company to close this out,’’ she said.

Stevens said her insurance company, AMI, would charge $400 excess, even though she did not cause the damage. ‘‘These companies have coverage for their employees, but when it comes to the general public it’s just a case of bad luck.

‘‘I have to prove the sign wasn’t fitted down properly, which I can’t do because it literally flew away,’’ she said.

Christchurch experienced a powerful front on Wednesday, with winds reaching 100kmh.