http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/local/3499353/4WD-tied-to-tree-after-accident
Seven people, including babies aged three and five months, have escaped unscathed after their 4WD left a Kapiti Coast road and stranded them in the dark for more than four hours, police say.
The vehicle went over a bank yesterday evening and was stuck halfway down a hill in the Maungakotukutuku Valley, inland from Paraparaumu, 53km northeast of Wellington.
The occupants tied the 4WD to a tree to stop it sliding further down.
Police became aware of the accident about 7.40pm yesterday, said Inspector Paul Jermy of police central communications.
One of the group apparently managed to walk to an area that had cellphone coverage and was able to text a friend saying they were in trouble.
The group did not have a great deal of food and only one blanket, Mr Jermy said.
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter found the vehicle and passed its location to a police search and rescue team.
Rescuers reached the group about 12.15am. Ambulance staff checked them out but they were fine.
The Maungakotukutuku Valley was the scene of a fatal crash earlier this month when Tiana Law, 16, was killed when the 4WD she was in rolled.
Five other teenagers aged 15 to 19 were injured in the March 10 crash, one critically.
Maungakotukutuku Valley
Maungakotukutuku Valley
Mike
1989 LandCruiser MWD BJ74 13BT
33 Deserthawk XMT.
If guns kill people, then,
Spoons make people fat,
Pencils mis-spell words,
and Cars make people drive drunk.
021 666812
1989 LandCruiser MWD BJ74 13BT
33 Deserthawk XMT.
If guns kill people, then,
Spoons make people fat,
Pencils mis-spell words,
and Cars make people drive drunk.
021 666812
Re: Maungakotukutuku Valley
Not the first time this road has been in the news of late, a couple of weeks ago it was int he news when someone was killed on the road.
Re: Maungakotukutuku Valley
From Stuff today...
"Totally irresponsible" off-roaders who sparked a large-scale night rescue after crashing with two babies and a preschooler will be assessed by Child, Youth and Family.
Tawa man Brett Boddington slid off a track in the Maungakotukutuku Valley near Paraparaumu on Tuesday during a "fun 4WD ride".
In the Mazda Proceed were his partner, two sons aged three years and two months, friend Aaron Adamson, Mr Adamson's partner and their seven-month-old son.
Police said the group did everything wrong: they had insufficient food, no warm clothing, no GPS unit, no support vehicle and did not tell anyone where they going.
Perched dangerously down a steep bank, they were lucky to get a cellphone signal in an area where coverage was sporadic.
They texted for help about 6.30pm. A rescue was launched about 7.20pm. With babies and three-year-old in tow, the group clambered out of the vehicle and strapped the 4WD to a tree to stop it sliding further down.
Huddled in cold, windy, dark conditions under one blanket, they were rescued five hours later after an operation involving 10 people from police, search and rescue, the Westpac rescue helicopter and an ambulance.
Inspector Niall Deehan said they got to the group just in time. "They did not have sufficient food. They were borrowing each other's milk formulas for bottles, teats were falling in the mud, the kids were starving.
"We were lucky to get there before dehydration and exposure set in – it fell on the cusp of a disaster," Mr Deehan said. "It is incredibly irresponsible for adults to take children up there. "If you plan to do something dangerous, leave your babies and toddlers with someone else.
"There was no backup plan in case they crashed. Saying they were sorry afterwards just did not cut it, sorry only means something if you are not going to do it again."
The search operation was costly, he said. The helicopter alone cost around $3000. Police were looking into the incident "to see if other agencies can prevent the group doing the same thing again". He confirmed Child, Youth and Family would be notified.
Mr Boddington said the children were "sweet as" after their ordeal. It had not put him off four-wheel driving, but he and his mate planned to do a driving course and get a winch.
"We could have walked out in about an hour ... the main thing is everyone got out safe and sound." He thanked emergency services and 4WD expert Nick Rowell, who he texted to alert emergency services.
Mr Adamson said the "freak accident" had taught him a lesson. "We will let people know where we are next time," he said.
Westpac rescue helicopter crewman Dave Greenberg said the conditions were extremely windy and dark. Using night-vision goggles they found the missing group but could not winch them out of the tall pine forest and police had to drive in to collect them.
Wellington police search and rescue co-ordinator Sergeant Jo Holden said there was no justification for people putting themselves in that situation at night with two babies.
"They were badly prepared, had barely enough food for the young children and inadequate clothing. People in 4WDs think they are ten- foot-tall and bulletproof."
Stuff atricle here
"Totally irresponsible" off-roaders who sparked a large-scale night rescue after crashing with two babies and a preschooler will be assessed by Child, Youth and Family.
Tawa man Brett Boddington slid off a track in the Maungakotukutuku Valley near Paraparaumu on Tuesday during a "fun 4WD ride".
In the Mazda Proceed were his partner, two sons aged three years and two months, friend Aaron Adamson, Mr Adamson's partner and their seven-month-old son.
Police said the group did everything wrong: they had insufficient food, no warm clothing, no GPS unit, no support vehicle and did not tell anyone where they going.
Perched dangerously down a steep bank, they were lucky to get a cellphone signal in an area where coverage was sporadic.
They texted for help about 6.30pm. A rescue was launched about 7.20pm. With babies and three-year-old in tow, the group clambered out of the vehicle and strapped the 4WD to a tree to stop it sliding further down.
Huddled in cold, windy, dark conditions under one blanket, they were rescued five hours later after an operation involving 10 people from police, search and rescue, the Westpac rescue helicopter and an ambulance.
Inspector Niall Deehan said they got to the group just in time. "They did not have sufficient food. They were borrowing each other's milk formulas for bottles, teats were falling in the mud, the kids were starving.
"We were lucky to get there before dehydration and exposure set in – it fell on the cusp of a disaster," Mr Deehan said. "It is incredibly irresponsible for adults to take children up there. "If you plan to do something dangerous, leave your babies and toddlers with someone else.
"There was no backup plan in case they crashed. Saying they were sorry afterwards just did not cut it, sorry only means something if you are not going to do it again."
The search operation was costly, he said. The helicopter alone cost around $3000. Police were looking into the incident "to see if other agencies can prevent the group doing the same thing again". He confirmed Child, Youth and Family would be notified.
Mr Boddington said the children were "sweet as" after their ordeal. It had not put him off four-wheel driving, but he and his mate planned to do a driving course and get a winch.
"We could have walked out in about an hour ... the main thing is everyone got out safe and sound." He thanked emergency services and 4WD expert Nick Rowell, who he texted to alert emergency services.
Mr Adamson said the "freak accident" had taught him a lesson. "We will let people know where we are next time," he said.
Westpac rescue helicopter crewman Dave Greenberg said the conditions were extremely windy and dark. Using night-vision goggles they found the missing group but could not winch them out of the tall pine forest and police had to drive in to collect them.
Wellington police search and rescue co-ordinator Sergeant Jo Holden said there was no justification for people putting themselves in that situation at night with two babies.
"They were badly prepared, had barely enough food for the young children and inadequate clothing. People in 4WDs think they are ten- foot-tall and bulletproof."
Stuff atricle here
Re: Maungakotukutuku Valley
Gotta love the "people in 4wd drives" comment at the end
Re: Maungakotukutuku Valley
suzuki1k wrote:From Stuff today...
and bulletproof."
police should know, couriers arn't bulletproof.........
-
Andrew1706
- Hard Yaka
- Posts: 716
- Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2007 12:00 pm
- Location: Auckland
Re: Maungakotukutuku Valley
How do you get 4 adults and 3 kids in a Proceed? 
Re: Maungakotukutuku Valley
Andrew1706 wrote:How do you get 4 adults and 3 kids in a Proceed?
Was waiting for someone else to click on that point... three carseats in the back four adults in the front??
Re: Maungakotukutuku Valley
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 243310.htm
They come in a 7 seater option.
Out of interest who here takes the kids 4x4'ing? When is it ok and when is it not ok?
They come in a 7 seater option.
Out of interest who here takes the kids 4x4'ing? When is it ok and when is it not ok?
Re: Maungakotukutuku Valley
I take my kids out most of the time...
Only leave them at home if the tracks are potentially a Opps stuck over night type trip. IE Thompsons, Stadia, etc etc.
Having said that will always take heaps of food and water. And warm clothes. My kids are now 4 and 7. But did shiney / club day runs when they were still babes in arms.
Calvin
Only leave them at home if the tracks are potentially a Opps stuck over night type trip. IE Thompsons, Stadia, etc etc.
Having said that will always take heaps of food and water. And warm clothes. My kids are now 4 and 7. But did shiney / club day runs when they were still babes in arms.
Calvin
Cheers Calvin
KZJ78 Landcruiser Prado...
KZJ78 Landcruiser Prado...