Tragic Vehicle Crash and Power Outages

Late Thursday afternoon a vehicle crashed into a power transformer units and communications pole at the entry to the Norfolk Island Health & Residential Aged Care Service (NIRACS), the Norfolk Island Hospital on Grassy Road. Emergency crews and first responders attended the accident which happened around 5.30pm.

7.30pm on Thursday evening, 16 March 2023, a TEXT Message, was sent to everyone with Norfolk Island mobile phone numbers, advising that the power would be out from Douglas Drive, Taylors Road corner out to Anson Bay and to expect the power to be off until Friday morning. Also, the TV and Radio broadcast links were also affected.

News reports today, the local Norfolk Island Police asked if anyone was in the area at the time to contact them to assist with there investigation of the accident. On Friday afternoon I saw Police Officers investigating the roadway and photographing the wheel track marks on the roundabout traffic island and the roadways.

Australia News Reports shared the sad news that a gentleman on holiday from Sydney had passed away and three passengers had been medivaced on two medivac care flights to Brisbane. Our heart goes out those involved in the car crash and to their family and friends as they come to terms of the tragic loss of a loved one and dealing with injuries from this terrible accident.

Emergency services had a busy time at the scene of the vehicle accident. The Ambulance staff, Fire crew, and Police and electrical staff were there to assist. I drove past the area about an hour after the accident occurred and there were flashing emergency lights, the crews were attending at the accident site, and I saw a door had been removed from the vehicle.

My thoughts went to the first responders and those who were supporting those involved in the accident. I was a member of Norfolk Island St John Ambulance for many years and my first thought was do I need to stop to help, but I could see that there were many people at the scene to deal with the situation.

Thank you also to the ambulance crew, the hospital staff, and the police, for their care, help and support. A massive thank you to those first on the scene and this shows how important it is to attend First Aid Training and learning CPR and lifesaving skills.

If you wish to attend a First Aid Course, contact Norfolk Island St John Ambulance for dates and times, you never know when you might need to help.

Thank you to the Life Flights who air lifted the crash victims from Norfolk Island to Brisbane. I read that the Brisbane and Townsville Life Flight Air Ambulance jets airlifted three people to Brisbane over night after they were seriously injured in the single vehicle crash on Thursday 16 March 2023.

If you would like to read more about the tragic accident reported on Australian media news which have been posted on the internet, here are a couple of links.

https://www.lifeflight.org.au/two-lifeflight-jets-airlift-crash-victims-from-norfolk-island/

https://www.smh.com.au/national/sydney-man-killed-in-norfolk-island-car-crash-20230317-p5ct1m.html

Once again, a big thank you to the Norfolk Island emergency crews and medical staff for attending and caring for those involved in the accident and also to the community for helping, your compassion and support during the tragic accident. Our thoughts are with everyone involved and with the victims, their families, and friends.

Betty Matthews

March 2023