At around 9:30am yesterday, Police were called to a crash? where a single vehicle had driven off the side of a bank on Waikowhai Street in Ngaio, Wellington.?
The female driver of the vehicle had driven off the road and the car had fallen approximately 10-15 metres down a bank and only coming to a stop after hitting several trees on the way down.
As a result the vehicles airbags were deployed and the driver suffered no injuries, thanks to wearing her seatbelt. Her two-and-a half-week old baby boy was safely secured in the back seat in his? baby-capsule that had been checked/fitted by Plunket, so was also unharmed.
Police definitely think the seat belt and the properly-fitted baby capsule is what saved both mum and baby from serious injury.
Constable Wendy Bryant from Wellington Police says ¡°The mum was actually driving back to Johnsonville Plunket at the time to get the baby capsule re-checked as the baby was now a couple of weeks old to make sure everything was all right when the crash happened. Obviously it was properly installed as it possibly saved baby¡¯s life.¡±
A witness following in another car called 111 and emergency services attended immediately.? Police had to get a specialised tow-truck brought out to the scene with a long enough winch rope to drag the car back up to the road.
¡°Mum was understandably shaken but although both her and her son have suffered no injuries they were taken to hospital to be checked out anyway, Constable Bryant said.¡±
Ends
Media release issued by Jillian Reid, Public Affairs, PNHQ
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