Fatal crash on way to airport
A man who allegedly caused a fatal crash on a Canterbury highway was driving to the airport to take his daughter to Germany for life-saving surgery.
Stuff understands the driver, who is a New Zealand resident, crossed the centreline on the Parnassus Rd section of State Highway 1, north of Cheviot, in North Canterbury, just after 2pm on Sunday.
Cheviot local Vernon Leslie Eade, 78, also known as Les, was killed in the crash. His wife, Ann Eade, was badly injured.
It is understood the driver of the other car was travelling to Christchurch Airport, where he and his daughter were booked on a flight to Germany.
A police spokeswoman confirmed a 48-year-old man has been charged with careless or inconsiderate vehicle operation causing death and careless or inconsiderate vehicle operation causing injury. He was due to appear in court on Monday.
It is understood the man has been allowed to leave the country for his daughter’s surgery.
The Eades’ son, Dave Eade, told Stuff he and his mother would call each other whenever the Cheviot fire brigade alarm rang to see if they were OK. After hearing the siren about 2pm on Sunday, Eade could not get an answer on either of his parents’ cellphones.
‘‘At that point I knew there was a problem, so I went looking for them.’’
Eade came across the crash about 15 minutes later and saw his mother being loaded into a helicopter. A police officer at the scene told him his father was dead.
‘‘I was gutted, but then my focus was on my mum. It’s just what you do. There will be time to grieve Dad later.’’
Eade said his mother, who is in Christchurch Hospital with broken ribs, a cracked sternum and cuts and bruises, had no memory of the crash that killed her husband of 52 years.