“Big Blackout After Crash”

Description

These images were taken for the June 4th 1978, edition of the Tribune weekly newspaper, the first of which was published with the caption ‘The truck that did all the damage, wedged against the power pole. Broken power lines are lying over the footpath.”

An excerpt from the article read: “Electricity supplies over a wide area of Palmerston North were knocked out on Thursday when this truck slid into a power pole at the intersection of Maxwell's Line and Pioneer Highway. The accident blacked out Longburn, Awapuni, Aokautere, Linton and Massey areas, the Manawatu-Oroua Power Board's area engineer, Mr D. K. Ranford, told the Tribune. The Longburn sub station feeders were temporarily knocked out and the Longburn freezing works were without electricity for some time. The driver of the railways department truck which hit the pole, Tuaine Ranginui, 22, of Palmerston North, was taken to the Palmerston North hospital for treatment after the accident. The crash happened about 11.50 a.m., and the resultant flash was seen from three kilometres away by the Tribune editor, followed by successive flashes on the power lines.”

These images form part of the Manawatū Evening Standard Negative Collection. Unfortunately, only negatives between April and December 1978 are held.

Identification

Archive

Manawatū Evening Standard Negative Collection

Relation

2017-20

Date

June 4, 1978

Digitisation id

2025N_2017-20_Tribune_043307-0005

Format

B&W negative

Held in

Coolstore