COLLAPSED BRIDGE SPAN

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23966, 5 June 1943, Page 4

COLLAPSED BRIDGE SPAN

♦ EFFORT TO LOCATE VEHICLES (P.A.) WELLINGTON. June 4. - The Whirokino bridge over tno Manawatu river near Foxton. where several vehicles plunged into the riy last evening through the collapse of tn - central span, was visited to-day by tne Minister of Works (the Hon. , Semple). , ' , Under the direction of Mr A. «*. v Acheson, Public Works Department engineer, bulldozers and tractors both sides of the river to-day' were , connected by wire ropes to the sunken structure in an endeavour to remove it and locate the sunken jeep and ivir Peacock’s car, and to enable a searen to be made for the lorry presumed w be there. . , ... Wide inquiries so far have failed io disclose any lorry reported I J USSI "J’ a Assistance in the work is Deu s given by military units. One bicycle was recovered wun » light still burning, , ... The cause of the collapse is still mystery. One theory is that a lorry loaded with vegetables skidded on bridge, the sideways thrust causing tn collapse of the structure which may have been weakened. In the meantime, a'i traffic has bee diverted by way of Shannon. The name of the Umlod States marine who was with Marine ~r ® . and a woman companion is I nva Roust, These wore the occupants ot jeep which went through the gap-