The Star: October 21, 2021

The Star Thursday October 21 2021
10
NEWS
Emergency
MIQ spot
granted
• By Hamish Clark
A CHRISTCHURCH man living
in Europe who was denied an
emergency MIQ spot to attend
his father’s funeral has received
approval to return home and
spread his dad’s ashes.
The good news came earlier
this week following an apology
from the MIQ Emergency Allocation
Team, saying “we are sorry
to hear of the passing of your
father, please accept our sincere
condolences”.
Darin Paterson’s father, Bruce
Paterson, was diagnosed with a
tumour four weeks ago and admitted
to Ashburton Hospital.
Paterson had applied for an
emergency MIQ voucher earlier
this month when his father fell
seriously ill.
It included a letter of support
from his father’s doctor, but was
turned down and he was told to
reapply. His father died the next
day.
Paterson missed his father’s
funeral, and instead watched it
online and gave a video eulogy
over the internet.
Last week he reapplied for an
emergency MIQ spot and was
approved.
—NZ Herald
• By John Cosgrove
A NOTORIOUS bend on the
Cashmere hills continues to be a
trap for motorists.
On Sunday, a vehicle crashed
through a fence and overturned
on a 25km/h bend on Dyers Pass
Rd.
People who live on the stretch
of road close to Colombo St said
they were used to it and crashes
happen there quite regularly.
One said this time there was
no warning when the crash
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
REPAIRS NEEDED: The site of a car crash on Sunday which injured five people on Dyers Pass Rd.
PHOTOS: GEOFF SLOAN
Tricky bend claims another car
occurred at about 4.15pm.
“I was inside my house
when all I heard was a big
whump and then quiet, I didn’t
hear the usual screech of skidding
tires.
“I went outside but there
was already a crowd of people
helping out so I stood back not
wanting to get in the way of the
emergency services,” he said.
He remembered that the fence
damaged in the crash had only
been repaired about a year or so
ago following another incident.
“Cars have crashed here many
times,” he said.
“On any weekend it’s hoon city
with cars racing up and down
Dyers Pass Rd all hours of the
day.”
A member of the city council
tech services and design team
was on site when The Star visited
and confirmed they were looking
at what repairs were needed to
the damaged guard rail and its
foundations in order to return it
to a serviceable state.
Spreydon-Cashmere Community
Board member Keir
Leslie said he visited the site on
Tuesday and met with council
staff and was quite concerned
about the nature of this crash.
“We are all awaiting the
accident report, which staff
will then analyse and make
recommendations about what
is needed to be repaired or
changed to make the corner safer
for residents and road users, we
are keen to make it as safe as
possible and soon as possible,”
Leslie said.
Before
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your deck
check for
power lines
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