Car crashes
There were four reported car crashes on Saturday – three of them happening on or near the Remutaka Hill – and a fifth crash yesterday. The first crash at 1.52pm involved one vehicle, just around the corner from the summit on the Hutt side of the hill. The vehicle crashed into the bank, no injuries were reported, and the road was not blocked. The second crash happened 25 minutes later at 2.17pm near Kaitoke and involved two vehicles, and the southbound lane was blocked, although a police spokesperson said there appeared to be no injuries. The third hill crash involved a single vehicle at 4.46pm that crashed in Kaitoke. A Wellington Free Ambulance [WFA] spokesperson confirmed that paramedics treated and transported two patients – one in a serious condition, and one in a moderate condition – to Hutt Hospital. The southbound lane was blocked for a time, according to a police spokesperson. Police also responded to reports of a single-vehicle crash at Rochdale Rd in Riversdale at 2.28am Saturday morning. The road was blocked for a time and WFA confirmed they attended the scene, where paramedics treated three patients at the scene and transferred one to Wairarapa Hospital. Another single vehicle crash yesterday prompted a police response after the car crashed into a tree on Lees Pakaraka Rd at 12.58pm. There were no injuries or road blockages.
Shaky Saturday
A shallow earthquake 35 kilometres southwest of Wellington was felt on Saturday as far north as Whanganui. The 5km deep earthquake measured in at 4.7 magnitude and was described as a “light” shake by GeoNet. People in Masterton, Martinborough, and even as far east as Waipawa reported feeling the earthquake in the Wairarapa region. Saturday also marked the 10-year anniversary of the 6.2 magnitude earthquake that occurred 15km east of Eketāhuna.
Police callouts
Police helped rescue a group of people stranded on one side of the river near Upper Waingawa Rd on Saturday afternoon. At about 3.40pm on Saturday, police responded to the call and helped the group back across the river. Police also responded to reports of dirt bikes going up and down Oxford St at about 9.10pm on Saturday night but no riders or bikes were located after completing an area search.
