Dad hit accelerator in freak accident

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http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/10340738/dad-hit-accelerator-in-freak-accident/

NZ Newswire
September 26, 2011, 2:43 pm

A Christchurch father killed in a freak accident when reversing out of his driveway probably hit the accelerator instead of the brake, police say.

Engineer Geoff Skinner, in his 40s, was backing out of his garage in the suburb of Casebrook on his way to pick up Sunday evening takeaways when his car door caught a shelving unit.

"The door's caught and he's gone to slam on the brake, as you would, but it appears he's hit the accelerator instead," Senior Sergeant Pete Stills told NZN on Monday.

"The car's lurched backwards at speed and the force of that appears to have pulled him half from the car and crushed him right at the garage opening."

The officer described it as a "horrible, freak accident".

"It's totally freaky, really tragic," Snr Sgt Stills said.

"You've got a really nice, good decent family; mum, dad and a five-year-old child. He pops out for Sunday night takeaways and this happens. It's awful really."

He confirmed his wife heard the crash from inside the house, "but it sounded like the garage door closing so she didn't think much of it".

When Mr Skinner still hadn't returned 30 minutes later she went into the garage to find him dead.
"It would have been horrendous for her," the officer said.

Fire and ambulance were called, but it took them "some time" to work out what had happened.
"It was quite a confusing scene".

He said it was impossible to send a safety message as the man was doing as police advise.

"He was doing what a lot of people do, or should do, and backing with the door open to see clearly. It's not something I'd discourage, but this time someone's been caught out."

He said hitting the wrong pedal was easy enough to do. "I've even done it myself".

A post-mortem is underway, and the car, a Nissan Cefiro, will also be investigated further, police said.