Gareth Clark escaped death by millimetres. Photo / Sarah Ivey
The father of a teenager who survived when a branch pierced his neck after a high-speed crash says his son has learned his lesson about speeding.
Gareth Clark, 16, survived being skewered through the neck after his friend lost control of the car and it careered into a
clump of trees.
Gareth's father, Boyd Clark, told the Weekend Herald last night that his son, who is away at a sports camp for the weekend, had learned his lesson about the dangers of speeding.
"Talking to him, he really has learned or certainly become aware that when you drive fast you are going to in effect put yourself in danger, and that whilst there was a thrill in going fast and so on - and most youngsters and certainly Gareth feel indestructible at that age - he now realises he's not indestructible and when things go wrong there can be very serious and dire consequences."
Mr Clark said his son was feeling a lot better but would not be taking part in any sports during the weekend camp.
"He's gone to get out and about and see his friends. He'll be sitting on the sidelines ... He might try bowls or archery or something."
He said the doctor had given the all-clear for Gareth to attend the camp, provided he did not take part in any strenuous activities.
The 16-year-old driver of the car is facing a number of charges after the crash.
Sergeant Graham McGurk said the force of the crash, which happened last Tuesday, had shocked police.
"It hit so hard and fast that birds sitting in the tree didn't have time to react and died."
The driver told police he tried to take a corner at 150km/h but lost control of the car.
He faces a charge of dangerous driving causing injury.
He has also been charged with sustained loss of traction relating to burnouts at an intersection on Tower Rd a short time earlier.
His badly damaged car has been impounded.
