Cow coincidences culminate in cowshed conflagration

A New Zealand farmer is wiping his brow after a potential cowshed disaster was averted after a string of events which began with a late-night car crash.

The drama began when the driver of a car travelling along a dark, wet Manaia Rd in Kaponga at about 10pm on Friday failed to see the black friesian cow. The impact killed the beast which was thrown over the top of the car, peeling back the bonnet and shattering the windscreen.



The car continued up the road before smashing into a pole which caused a power surge to race along the wires into the farmer's house. He discovered the same surge had blown up the cowshed meter board and set it on fire. To his relief the blaze melted a water line directly above and the water tumbled down and extinguished the blaze.

The series of incidents was relayed by Kaponga fire chief, Jason Hurley. "It was hard case," he said. "If the fire was not extinguished in the freak series of events, the cowshed, hidden behind a hedge from the road, would have been well ablaze before it was noticed. There's a few people who should be buying Lotto tickets." The car driver, not believed to be badly injured, was very lucky, Mr Hurley said. He was taken to Hawera Hospital by ambulance.