\u201cIt was all black ice \u2013 and that s***\u2019s pretty deadly\u201d, Te Hau told the Gisborne Herald.<\/p>\n
One of the van passengers had walked further up the road to warn motorists of the black ice ahead.<\/p>\n
Te Hau heard another car approaching as he arrived at the scene.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was too late \u2026 everything just happened so fast\u201d.<\/p>\n
One of the men in the video is heard yelling; \u201cTell him to slow down\u201d.<\/p>\n
Seconds later, the car slid off the road, backwards into a ditch.<\/p>\n
Another man on the scene took the video and Te Hau shared it to a community Facebook group.<\/p>\n
The 45-second video of the crash has been shared more than 400 times. Photo \/ Ngamanaaki Te Hau<\/p>\n
In the caption, he warns motorists to be \u201cextremely cautious\u201d of black ice build-up, \u201cespecially on the south side of Wharer\u0101t\u0101 summit\u201d.<\/p>\n
The 45-second video has been shared more than 400 times.<\/p>\n
Te Hau hopes the video will raise awareness of dangers on the stretch.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were a lot of cars that were coming down pretty fast, and that bloody road there is pretty notorious for, you know, the black ice. I\u2019ve been travelling that road for years,\u201d Te Hau said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was just fortunate enough that someone had captured that moment because there have been so [many] incidents along there and no one\u2019s recorded it.\u201d<\/p>\n
After the crash he witnessed, Te Hau raced to his car and drove further up the road to get reception to call emergency services. <\/p>\n
He waved down incoming motorists to warn them about the black ice ahead.<\/p>\n
One Facebook user commented; \u201cWow, that\u2019s scary stuff. Where are the signs warning motorists?\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo pleased that everyone is alright … definitely need better signage telling people to slow down in that area on icy mornings,\u201d wrote another.<\/p>\n
Te Hau said he did not see any signage, aside from a \u201cslippery when wet\u201d sign.<\/p>\n
Martin Colditz, the Hawke\u2019s Bay\/Tair\u0101whiti area manager for NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, said it was aware of the potential of black ice on parts of SH2 \u2013 particularly in the Wharer\u0101t\u0101 area. <\/p>\n
\u201cLosing traction and crashing is traumatic and we extend our sympathies to everyone involved in the weekend\u2019s crash,\u201d Colditz said.<\/p>\n
NZTA uses static and digital signage in the Wharer\u0101t\u0101 area. The latter is triggered when temperatures hit 3C. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf the application thresholds are met, our local contractor will spray calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) before the ice forms as a preventative measure, and in certain situations we will consider road closures,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cIn icy conditions, drivers are urged to reduce their speeds \u2013 especially if travelling in the early hours \u2013 increase their following distances and avoid sudden braking or turning movements. <\/p>\n
\u201cIce is more likely to form in places such as bridges and shaded areas, and black ice can be harder to spot.\u201d<\/p>\n
Te Hau wants the road to be repaired \u2013 particularly large potholes and slip debris \u2013 to prevent future accidents.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt could have been worse, and that road needs to be fixed,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just a matter of time before someone seriously gets hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n