Week of carnage

Last week was a killer week on the nation’s roads, bringing the tally to 199 deaths this year.

A tragic crash in Taranaki claimed seven lives. Four elderly friends – Ian Porteous, 80, his wife Rosalie, 76, his sister Ora Keene,

84, and friend Brenda Williams, 79 – were killed in the car heading north. Eight-year-old Nivek Madams, her baby sister 8-weekold Shady Thompson, and stepfather 28-year-old Jeremy Thompson died in the southbound car. The girls’ mother, Ani Nohinohi, was the sole survivor.

In the Waikato four people died in crashes between Saturday and Wednesday.

On a typical week Waikato’s SCU might attend one, Jones said.

‘‘That is high for us, and five in a week is excessive.’’

So far this year 27 people have died on the region’s roads.

Dealing with traumatic and serious injury crashes takes a toll on police staff, Jones said.

Many have young families of their own, and seeing children dead or maimed can bring them to breaking point.

‘‘I’m a dad myself, and most of the officers on the unit are parents, it’s awful. Crashes involving elderly and young people are hard to attend.

‘‘Little people are resilient but squishy and elderly people don’t bounce quite as well.’’

Jones reminded drivers: ‘‘There’s only a 3-inch painted line between you and death.’’