A Truck Driver Got Charged for A Crash
A truck driver has been charged after he failed to take a bend and crashed into a barrier south of Blenheim this morning, tipping the vehicle onto its side and spilling hazardous materials. The truck and trailer unit failed to take a left-hand bend on a stretch of State Highway 1 known as Dazzle Corner, about 10km south of Blenheim, as it travelled north about 12.50am.
It smashed into a barrier and ended up on its side, on top of the barrier, Sergeant Mark Kirkwood said. Heavy lifting equipment was at the scene and the southbound lane would remain closed until at least 8am. A Fire Service hazardous materials team was cleaning up the load, believed to contain aerosol cans among other materials.
The 32-year-old driver from Christchurch was uninjured. He will face careless driving charges.
Meanwhile, families of road death victims are unfairly missing out on government financial help, Victim Support says. Victim Support chief executive Tony Paine said it was unfair that families of those killed by drunk, drugged or dangerous drivers were entitled to financial support only if there was a manslaughter charge.
Police faced difficulties prosecuting for manslaughter in road crashes and often opted for dangerous driving or careless driving causing death, he said. Such charges did not trigger government assistance, but bereaved families faced the same emotional pain and costs as those who lost loved ones to homicides.
Late last year the Government increased the assistance available to victims of serious crimes, largely funded through a $50 offender levy. For families of homicide victims this included doubling the funeral grant to $10,000, increasing the discretionary grant to $5000 and providing a daily allowance to attend court. The travel allowance for victims of serious crime was also increased.
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