UPDATED: The NZ Transport Agency says the parked car involved in a crash on State Highway 29A near Maungatapu this morning had been scheduled to be towed later this week.
Police have confirmed that fatigue was a contributing factor in the crash, with the driver of the vehicle which smashed into the parked car telling officers they had fallen asleep at the wheel.
The scene of this morning's crash under the Taipari Street overbridge near Maungatapu. Photo: Daniel Hines
NZTA Waikato/Bay of Plenty regional director Harry Wilson says contractors noticed the car on May 25, and after taking down the registration plate number immediately began searching for the owner.
But numerous attempts to contact the Auckland-based owner by phone and email had been unsuccessful.
'Late last week a decision was made to leave the car where it was until after the long weekend, as it was parked on the shoulder, clear of the traffic lane,” he says.
'The owner contacted the contractor yesterday [Tuesday] to arrange to have the vehicle towed this week. As the car was off the road, a decision was made to be let the owner organise towing.”
The vehicle has since been towed this morning – but probably not under the circumstances the vehicle's owner would have wanted.
Harry says the car was parked behind the white lines when it was hit, and where it was parked the road measures 11.5m wide.
A photo of the parked car taken by NZ Transport Agency contractors. Photo: NZTA
He is reminding motorists that everyone has a responsibility to look after themselves, their families, as well as others that they share the road with.
'Many of the crashes in the Western Bay are preventable. Our data shows that speed, driver distraction and fatigue play large parts in many of the crashes in the region.
About half the crashes that kill people are caused by people who aren't breaking the road rules – they are people who are making mistakes when they are distracted or tired. It is important that people give driving the respect and attention it deserves,” says Harry.
The crash was one of two accidents on SH29A that occurred within the space of two hours this morning.
EARLIER:
Motorists travelling on State Highway 29A suffered lengthy waits following two car crashes in the space of two hours this morning.
The first of the two accidents involved a car smashing into another vehicle which had been parked under the Taipari Street overbridge near Maunatpau at about 7am.
Western Bay of Plenty road policing manager Senior Sergeant Ian Campion says fatigue played a part in this crash with the driver telling officer she had fallen asleep at the wheel.
Following this morning's crash SunLive has been contacted by a number of readers saying the vehicle had been parked under the overbridge for the past fortnight.
Ian says police are aware the vehicle had been parked under the overbridge for several weeks, adding that NZ Transport Agency contractors had also been in discussions with the owner of the parked vehicle.
'I have spoken to those contractors and they confirm they made extensive enquiries to get in touch with the vehicle's owner and had been negotiating the removal of that vehicle,” says Ian.
A common theme running through SunLive readers' comments was that the incident was an ‘accident waiting to happen'.
While one reader asked: 'Surely police or council should have the authority remove vehicles parked in a no stopping zone, in this case a very busy road, in a matter of hours not a week.”
Ian says they will tow vehicles that appear to have been abandoned.
'But to be fair, both police and NZTA contractors normally try to get in touch with the owner of the vehicle to motivate them to move the vehicle in the first instance.”
SunLive has contacted the NZTA and is waiting for a response.
19 comments
Common Sense
Posted on 08-06-2016 11:24 | By tabatha
Surely in this day and age any car left in such a place should be moved ASAP. We are in some ways a nana state and in others too caring. I thought the police and NZTA had safety as paramount and an abounded car should be moved for safety..
DavyB
Posted on 08-06-2016 12:08 | By dybryan
This a banded car has been there for nearly 2 weeks! Are the police too busy revenue collecting to have it removed? Shame on you Tauranga police...
No stopping zone?
Posted on 08-06-2016 12:12 | By Kevin85
Accdient waiting to happen
Posted on 08-06-2016 12:25 | By mik elliri
My words EXACTLY. I contacted NZTA 3 times and I gather from one conversation many others did too. I was told the second time I should contact the Police? I told then I thought it was NZTA that removed vehicles from state highways. I was also told it was not considered unsafe where it was sitting. I guess it couldn't be helped if someone fell asleep at the wheel? if they hadn't hit the car they would have hit the bank instead if they fell asleep.
Also...
Posted on 08-06-2016 12:29 | By penguin
...may have something to do with who pays the bill for removal...
fantastic driver was honest
Posted on 08-06-2016 12:40 | By Angel74
but she must of known she was tired before getting in the car to drive so why do it......... lucky the car she hit was parked and empty otherwise could of been a lot worse.
Hah..!!..that confued 'em...
Posted on 08-06-2016 13:23 | By groutby
Can't really see any need to actually drive into it 'cos it's there...but if it doesn't involve writing a ticket for something, chances are the Police simply won't know what to do about it!.." to be fair" Ian eh....
Police have no interest in removing hazards.
Posted on 08-06-2016 14:06 | By The Commentor
This reminds me of a few weeks ago when I contacted Police to advise them that there was a slip right across the road on a blind corner in the Waiokea Gorge. There were unavoidable basketball sized rocks that had caused people to lose sump oil on the road and cars all over the place. I rang *555 to get them to alert the Cop who was about half a km down the road, and they wouldn't do it. When I tried harder to explain just how dangerous it was they became rude and nasty. Clearly Police have no interest in real road hazards, only fictional ones that get them brownie points and revenue.
What's the bet...
Posted on 08-06-2016 14:09 | By The Commentor
That the Police/NZTA not removing the car won't be written up as part of the cause of the accident? My money says it will purely be the fault of the motorist that ran in to it. At least this time no one was seriously injured, unlike when NZTA stuck a sign blocking the view of oncoming traffic at the Tanners Point turnoff.(Which wasn't removed until the accident despite repeated warning by locals)
10 Days
Posted on 08-06-2016 14:40 | By Capt_Kaveman
i think is a bit long to be left there
Blame driver not parked car or Police
Posted on 08-06-2016 14:57 | By maildrop
No excuse for falling asleep. She could have wiped somebody out. Why is everyone quick to blame the Police and excuse her? I drive past hundreds of parked cars every day so I just avoid them. She should be banned for a very long time.
Why so long?
Posted on 08-06-2016 15:39 | By The Sage
The car should not have been left there for so long when the appropriate authorities knew of its existence. If it hadn't been the person this morning falling asleep, someone else would have hit it . There has been a boat and boat trailer parked the street next to mine since Christmas. We have to cross the middle of the road to get past it. Several calls, emails and letters to Council and they chalk the tyres. I have been told that the law is 7 days for such a vehicle. Coming up 7 months free boat parking on a suburban street.
DANGEROUS
Posted on 08-06-2016 18:25 | By Neiliies
We drove past this car last weekend and I commented to my husband that it was an accident waiting to happen - low and behold what did I see being towed in this morning - the accident THAT DID HAPPEN!! I think it is inexcusable that it could've been left there for so long, and I don't care what the experts say - IT WAS DANGEROUS!
Fell Asleep
Posted on 09-06-2016 07:54 | By gilmore4
I cant believe the comments are about a parked car, this person FELL ASLEEP while driving shouldn't that be more of a concern than a parked car that had been deemed out of the driving lane, we all should be thankful she didn't veer to the right and hit oncoming cars
Drug tested?
Posted on 11-06-2016 21:10 | By maildrop
Presumably this is normal practice when someone "falls asleep"? Damn well should be if not.
Maildrop
Posted on 12-06-2016 19:19 | By Kenworthlogger
Most drugs people use recreationally are stimulants. Cant wait till we catch up to Australia and start random tongue scapes for drugs.
One week?
Posted on 14-06-2016 13:41 | By Crash test dummies
Why so long to remove it, the tow truck operators are normally scrambling over a easy pick up like that. What is the hold up to get it done?
THE FACTS ARE NO IF'S AND BUT'S
Posted on 16-06-2016 19:35 | By ROCCO
This vehicle was illegally parked on the side asphalt part of a one lane national motorway(barely off it )for well over a week. Police etc notified of this yet it was not removed .It is an understatement to say this was an accident looking for a place to happen and it should have been towed or pushed up on the grass verge immediately . The owner needs to be prosecuted and there should be an internal police enquiry into police ineptitude- heads need to roll. The negligence of the driver that ran into the car is a completely different issue.
Bigger picture...
Posted on 16-06-2016 20:59 | By Humpdy Do
It is not only the tow fee but the ongoing storage fees, something like $300 a month. Perhaps those who think any car parked anywhere a driver who falls asleep might crash into it can register their names with the police and have these cars dumped on their front lawn....
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