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Wednesday, June 26, 2013
FIRST PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 27, 1879
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By Myles Hume
An Ashburton man who lived on his own but was known as “a friend to everybody” died in Christchurch Hospital early yesterday. Francis Brendan Tully, known to everyone as Frank, died in the hospital’s intensive care unit after he was struck by a van while riding his mobility scooter over a pedestrian crossing on Tinwald’s main street on Monday. The southbound van hit Mr Tully, 89, about 11.20am, coming
Frank Tully
to a stop 10 to 15 metres past the Archibald Street crossing. Mr Tully was flown to Christchurch Hospital in a critical condition at midday on Monday, but died of his extensive injuries with family around him at 12.02am yesterday. His death has been referred to the coroner, and yesterday Senior Sergeant Grant Russell, of Ashburton, said no charges had been laid but enquiries were ongoing. Brother-in-law Tony Purcell, who is married to Mr Tully’s sister Maureen, joined other family
members at Mr Tully’s Tinwald home yesterday. He told the Guardian Mr Tully was a well known man about town, who had a strong Catholic faith. “He lived on his own, never married or had any kids but he was a friend to everybody,” he said. Mr Purcell said the family had rallied round at the hospital from 2pm on Monday, and it was hard to see him go. “All we know is he was going from where he lives to get some lozenges for a sore throat, but he
got hit on the crossing,” he said. Originally from Rakaia, Mr Tully spent 40 years working as a linesman around the South Island, moving to Ashburton in the late 1980s, Mr Purcell said. “He enjoyed his work and he was a great traveller too. He called a spade a spade and loved his trots and rugby,” he said. Mr Tully was a regular at the Holy Spirit Church in Tinwald where his funeral will be held on Saturday. He will then be buried at the Rakaia cemetery. Mr Tully, one of six siblings, was survived by his sister Maureen
Purcell and several nephews and nieces. Mr Russell said police were continuing with investigations and the Serious Crash Unit and photographers visited the scene yesterday. “We still have to speak to witnesses and establish what has gone on.” Although it was still unclear what occurred in the final seconds before Mr Tully was hit, Mr Russell said it was vital pedestrians looked both ways and took extra care when crossing the road.
Father refuses to let kids use crossing By Myles Hume An Ashburton father says it is a shame it has taken a death to highlight the dangers of a pedestrian crossing on Tinwald’s main street. Francis Brendan Tully, 89, was killed after he was hit by a southbound van while riding his mobility scooter over an Archibald Street pedestrian crossing on Monday. Following the death, Tinwald School principal Peter Livingstone and parent Robin Burgess met yesterday, and are now looking to improve safety at the “concerning” pedestrian crossing several pupils use to get to and from school. Mr Burgess, a father of two, has always held grave concerns over the pedestrian crossing and has refused to let his seven and 11 year old children walk to Tinwald School, instead he has them driven to school each day. He wants improvements to be made, including flashing lights and restricting parking with yellow lines to improve visibility. “Until there’s a death, nothing will be done,” Mr Burgess said. “I’ve stood there many times with my children and cars just don’t stop there.” Mr Livingstone said it was unfortunate the death served as
“the catalyst”, but he would now look to find out how many pupils used the crossing, what the issues were, then launch a campaign in a bid to improve safety. Mr Burgess said he was at the pedestrian crossing yesterday when police were in the area about 10am, waiting for traffic to stop. “I went to cross the road, and of course a lady drove straight through without stopping.” Mr Livingstone said there appeared to be several problems with the location of the pedestrian crossing which was previously situated further north on the road outside a service station. The current crossing area was congested with trucks and vehicles exiting and entering nearby businesses, and visibility was poor with sun strike and building verandas obstructing the view from the Graham Street intersection, he said. “One of the biggest things is the traffic going down from 70km/h to 50km/h when heading into town, are they really doing 50?” he said. A Sims’ Bakery worker, who did not want to be named, said it was a busy pedestrian crossing and there had been “many close calls”. “I just don’t think it’s in the right place at all, I wouldn’t have it there,” she said.
R
Photo Kirsty Clay 250613-KC-096
Tinwald siblings Dale, 7, (left) and Adele, 11, Burgess have been told not to use the Archibald Street pedestrian crossing by their father Robin, who has always held concerns over the crossing.
Photo Tetsuro Mitomo 240613-TM-086
The tell-tale signs of boy racers who regularly visit the intersection of Company and Works Roads near Fairton, according to nearby residents.
Boy racers leaving shredded rubber, smashed beer bottles and golf clubs at a regular meeting spot in Fairton have pushed nearby residents to breaking point. One resident, who did not want to be named in fear of a backlash from the culprits, said the boy racers have been “leaving their filth” at the intersection of Company and Works Road for months and wanted them gone. Steve Neshausen, who lives near the intersection which also serves as the entrance to Silver Fern Farms Fairton, said it was usually teens who gathered at the spot, who were ”ripping themselves off having to buy new tyres”. He said the boy racers could be in the area for up to 40 minutes at night, mainly on Friday and Sunday,
and had used it as a regular meeting place since Christmas. “They just go out there and run amok, I have got to the point where I have thought about contacting police a couple of times,” Mr Neshausen said. The Guardian visited the intersection after reports of several cars meeting there at the weekend. A giveway sign had been pulled out of the ground, skid marks and rubber were strewn across the intersection, along with broken bottles and a tyre that had two snapped golf clubs sitting inside of it. The unnamed resident said she avoided using the road at the weekends, as she believed the gatherings would cause a serious accident one day. “It needs to be nipped in the bud before someone goes around the bend on Company Road and someone gets hit, that bend is what makes it so dangerous,” she said.
Senior Sergeant Grant Russell urged residents to contact police before the boy racers fled the scene. “When that is happening, problems with alleged boy racers, please call police when it’s happening because there is little we can do when they are gone,” he said. Silver Fern Farms Fairton plant manager Charlotte Stevens said the boy racers had not caused any damage to the worksite, but asked them to “cut it out”. “It’s not a good look and is a risk to people, so we have passed on what we know to the community constable,” she said. On Monday, 19-year-old herd manager Brandon Michael CampbellMatahaere was convicted and fined $1000 and disqualified from driving for nine months in the Ashburton District Court after he was charged with wheel spinning under boy racer legislation.
Build your dream home in the semi-rural area of Racecourse Road, Ashburton.
Provisonal member of RVA.
Invitation to have your say on new Guardian editor
By Myles Hume
15 sections selling from $172,500.
days to go
Coen Lammers
Boy racers a growing nuisance
Stage 2 – now available
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Crash victim dies of injuries 32
f a new no e w
Large majority of stage 1 sold out. For those interested in purchasing – lodge your interest quickly. Stage 2 titles due end of July. Lochlea Estate is a new subdivision, situated just a few minutes’ drive from the Ashburton town centre. These sections offer a unique ambience of tranquillity and privacy with amazing views of the Southern Alps.
Construction of the Lochlea Lifestyle Resort has commenced which is adjacent to the Lochlea Estate. The Lifestyle Resort will provide a range of indoor and outdoor activities and both Duplex and Stand-alone Villas and Aged Care Units. A fully equipped hospital is also planned. This will be Ashburton’s first complete lifestyle resort –
Phone 03 307 9080 Free phone 0800-2727-837 - After hours: 03-302-6887 - Email: tony@lochlearesort.co.nz
Tony Sands, Resort Manager
eaders of the Ashburton Guardian have a strong sense of ownership of their paper. The Guardian now offers them a unique opportunity to have their say on how our new compact paper will look. As you may have read, the Guardian will change its current Monday to Friday broadsheet-size paper to a compact format, like the Weekend Guardian, on July 29. We are not only changing the size and doubling our pages, but more importantly, we will modernise and upgrade the look and the content of your paper. The team at the Guardian, with some outside consultants, have been considering several designs for our masthead and our front page, but we want to know what the readers think. After all, our team has many opinions, but what really counts is your opinion. On Monday morning, July 1, we are organising a morning tea and want to invite a small number of readers to come and have a look at our designs and hear your views. If you are interested in having your say on the new-look Guardian, please email me on editor@theguardian.co.nz or phone reception on 307-7900 to register your interest and we will randomly pick a dozen readers and advertisers for morning tea. Looking forward to seeing you on Monday.
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