Woman killed in three-car crash in Prebbleton named
Thursday, 20 August 2020
An elderly woman who died following a three-car crash near Christchurch has been named.
She was 90-year-old Zelma Estelle Waghorn, of Little Akaloa.
Police were alerted to the crash, at the intersection of Birchs Rd and Robinsons Rd in Prebbleton, about 3.40pm on Tuesday.
St John spokesman Gerard Campbell earlier said one person had critical injuries and two others had serious injuries. All three were taken to Christchurch Hospital on Tuesday.
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* Elderly woman dies following three-car crash in Prebbleton, Canterbury
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Canterbury rural area commander Inspector Peter Cooper confirmed on Wednesday morning that Waghorn died about 9pm on Tuesday.
Stuff understands one of the vehicles travelled through a stop sign on Robinsons Rd and crashed into a vehicle travelling on Birchs Rd. One of the vehicles then spun out of control and hit a nearby stationary vehicle.
Cooper earlier told Stuff the fatal crash highlighted the need for motorists to pay attention at rural intersections, particularly in the Selwyn district where many of the roads had speed limits of 80kmh to 100kmh.
“You’ve really got to think when you’re driving around Selwyn and particular at controlled intersections,” he said.
Friend Perrine Freear previously lived in Little Akaloa with Waghorn and described her as a “lovely lady” with a good sense of humour.
She had “good, strong memories” of playing tennis with her.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand shift manager Brent Dunn told Stuff three fire crews attended the crash.
One person was trapped in each vehicle and were freed by firefighters, he said.
The police serious crash unit continues to investigate.
NZ Transport Agency crash data shows there have been 12 other crashes at the intersection since January 2000. Four resulted in minor injuries while the rest were non-injury.
Eighteen people have died on Canterbury roads so far this year, 11 fewer than the same time last year.
Anyone who witnessed Tuesday’s crash is asked to call police on 105 and quote file number 200818/3721.