Quadruple fatality scars truck driver
Police have named the four people who died in a crash between a truck and van near Ashburton.
A group of country music fans were being driven to the Gold Guitar music festival in Gore last Friday when their driver went through a controlled intersection.
The van was struck by a truck and shunted into a power pole.
Four people in the van died, including Christchurch driver Avinash Avinesh Chand, 33, and passenger Jonathan Campbell, 54.
Yesterday, police also named the other deceased as Sheryll Cairns, 66 and Donald Wallace, 61, both of Christchurch.
The driver of the truck was injured, though not badly.
Police believed the van was driven through the junction, which had stop signs on both sides, in a ‘‘moment of carelessness’’.
The driver of the truck is employed by Rural Transport Ltd. General manager Mark Wareing yesterday said the driver was ‘‘still physically sore and mentally scarred’’, but hoped to return to work soon.
‘‘It has taken the Rural Transport Ltd team some time to come to grips with last Friday’s road accident where four people tragically died,’’ he said. ‘‘It was an awful day on Mid-Canterbury roads and for us it was in the category of worst-case scenario.’’
The company’s sympathies went out to the grieving families, he said.
‘‘The prompt and professional way that emergency services and EA Network carried out their duties was hugely appreciated and a special thanks to a local woman for her bravery and kindness to the injured parties.’’
Wareing confirmed the truck driver was wearing a seatbelt.
‘‘If there is one key message that I would like to convey to all truck drivers around New Zealand is that accidents can occur in a fraction of a second so never become a complacent driver and always wear your seat belts.’’