On a very sad note, we just received this email from our good friends John & Carol in Winnipeg! This probably started out as a story much like ours, a retired couple taking the trip of their dreams to New Zealand except their story ends in tragedy. Carol emailed this...
"On a sadder note, Michelle Smith was a friend of ours who was killed in a tragic car accident while traveling in NZ. I tried to attach one of the articles from NZ for you, but for some reason it is a broken link now. You may want to Google it. The accident occurred at the gates of a popular tourist cave sight. Sorry, I done recall the name. Michelle’s husband, Doug was driving and ended up being charged with careless driving. Can you believe it? According to the locals, it was the road and the signage that was to blame. Regardless, a terribly tragedy overall. And to top it off, some creep broke into their hotel room while Doug was in court and stole their wallets, phones etc. So enjoy your travels but PLEASE BE SAFE. Hold each other tight and come and show us your smiling faces real soon!"
Can you believe this? As if Doug has not been paid the ultimate price for this nightmare incident, the country has the nerve to charge him with reckless driving. We covered the same roads and visited the same tourist trap. The parking lot is a literal DEATH TRAP, exiting on to a busy, narrow one lane highway with trucks and cars speeding by. He wouldn't have had a chance. I must admit, we have had some very close calls ourselves and only by the grace of God are we here today.
Doug has lost the love us his life and I am sure he will replay this horror story for the rest of his life. These countries depend on tourism and they better wake up to the fact that the majority of their tourists are from Western Countries and drive on the opposite side of the road. What they have done to Doug is cruel and unconscionable! Our hearts go out to you and your family.
Check out these websites for more information.
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/tourist-banned-driving-after-wife-s-death-4743702
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/new-zealanders-blame-intersection-in-death-140683313.html
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2012/02/26/mb-new-zealand-truck-accident.html
"On a sadder note, Michelle Smith was a friend of ours who was killed in a tragic car accident while traveling in NZ. I tried to attach one of the articles from NZ for you, but for some reason it is a broken link now. You may want to Google it. The accident occurred at the gates of a popular tourist cave sight. Sorry, I done recall the name. Michelle’s husband, Doug was driving and ended up being charged with careless driving. Can you believe it? According to the locals, it was the road and the signage that was to blame. Regardless, a terribly tragedy overall. And to top it off, some creep broke into their hotel room while Doug was in court and stole their wallets, phones etc. So enjoy your travels but PLEASE BE SAFE. Hold each other tight and come and show us your smiling faces real soon!"
Can you believe this? As if Doug has not been paid the ultimate price for this nightmare incident, the country has the nerve to charge him with reckless driving. We covered the same roads and visited the same tourist trap. The parking lot is a literal DEATH TRAP, exiting on to a busy, narrow one lane highway with trucks and cars speeding by. He wouldn't have had a chance. I must admit, we have had some very close calls ourselves and only by the grace of God are we here today.
Doug has lost the love us his life and I am sure he will replay this horror story for the rest of his life. These countries depend on tourism and they better wake up to the fact that the majority of their tourists are from Western Countries and drive on the opposite side of the road. What they have done to Doug is cruel and unconscionable! Our hearts go out to you and your family.
Check out these websites for more information.
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/tourist-banned-driving-after-wife-s-death-4743702
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/new-zealanders-blame-intersection-in-death-140683313.html
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2012/02/26/mb-new-zealand-truck-accident.html
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