Crash means end of road for Tina the Toyota

GOODBYE, OLD FRIEND: Tina the Toyota is to be retired after 11 years of service for Cara Leveridge.

Tina the Toyota is no longer on the road.

The car, belonging to Cara Leveridge of Masterton, was written off when an elderly driver was in collision with it, on the corner of Lincoln Rd and Queen St, yesterday morning.

Ms Leveridge was visibly shaken when the Times-Age caught up with her minutes after the accident, and said the incident had given her and two of her children the fright of their lives.

She said her 6-year-old son Thorne was so distraught he jumped out of the car, traumatised after the collision. "He was screaming," she said.

Ms Leveridge was gutted that her car of 11 years was written off. She had recently spent $2500 to bring it up to scratch so it was legal.

"I've slaved my guts out keeping it on the road. Tina the Toyota has been such a reliable car. She's always got me where I've needed to go."

The drama unfolded as she headed to drop off son Tane, 14, to catch the bus to Taranaki.

"I could see it happening but there was nothing I could do. It was horrible," she said.

Sergeant Richard Day said no one was injured in the two-car collision.

The man driving the other car was not from Wairarapa and was passing through on his way north when he crashed into Ms Leveridge's car, he said.

"He was looking into the sun and didn't see the give way sign," Mr Day said.

No decision had yet been made whether the other driver would be charged or not, he said.

"Inquiries are still continuing."