Crash: Maze man and son lucky to be alive

Sam Rollins, who is originally from the Maze area, told the Ulster Star how he and his son Thomas were on their way to a Christmas dinner in Auckland when they were involved in a head-on collision with another vehicle.

His Mercedes car was extensively damaged in the crash, but thankfully he and his son weren’t seriously injured.

“My car is a write-off, but I am pleased that my son and myself are still alive so I am not worried about it,” he said.

Mr Rollins, who emigrated to New Zealand in 1971 with his three young children following the sudden death of their mother, continued: “Thomas was in the back seat passenger side. If he’d been a front seat passenger he could have been badly hurt as there is no airbag to protect the front seat passenger as I had to protect me.

“This crash was very serious and I am sure all my family and friends back in Northern Ireland will be pleased to see that we both escaped this near fatal crash.”

According to Mr Rollins, a man has been arrested and charged in connection with the terrifying incident.