TWO KILLED WHEN CAR FALLS INTO RIVER BED

Chronicle (Levin), 9 January 1948, Page 3

TWO KILLED WHEN CAR FALLS INTO RIVER BED

: INVERCARGILL, Jan. 8. Tragedy marred -tlie holiday season in Queenstown early tliis morning when a car returning from a dance at the Lower Skotover, left the road at a spot known as Blaek Diamond Rock and hurtled 250 feet and fell into the bed of the Shotover River. Three of the five occupants were tlirown elear before'tke car struck a poplar tree but the other two persons feceived injuries fronx which they died. The victirns of the accident were: — Killed. Mrs. Eileen Thomson, aged 27, of Mataura, wife of Mr. Patrick Thomson and a daughter of Mrs. Cowan, Mataura. Mr. George Grant, aged 28, single, of Queenstown. Admitted to Hospital. . Mr. Patrick Thomson, husband of Eileen Thomson, serious injuries. The other two occupants of the car, Mr. Jolm Grant and his wife Jean, sulfered minor injuries .and were not admitted to hospital. Both the Graut brothers served in the Second World War and are members of a well known Frankton family. Tlie car, a 15)31 model, left the dance about 2.15 a.m. and was coming up the hill from the Shotover bridge when it niet. another car coming in the opposite direction. The driver of the Queenstown bound car, Mr. George Grant, attempted to dim his lights but instead they went out. The car continued on and veered over the bank while the other car proceeded on its xvay unaware of the tragedy being enacted. The crash was heard at Lower Shotover hotel and by other traffie on the road. A rescue party was quickly organised and members deseended to the bed of the river with a wire bedstead to bring the injured out. Mrs. Thomson and Mr. George Grant were still living but the former died after admission to Frankton Hospital and Mr. Grant died in hospital later in the morning.