A FATAL BOLT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1059, 23 February 1911, Page 5

A FATAL BOLT.

WELL-KNOWN SETTLER'S" DEATH. THROWN FROM A TRAP. WIFE AND DAUGHTER INJURED" (By Telegraph—Press Association.! Auckland, February 22. Further particulars arc to hand concerning tho sensational accident which occurred' on the Taulioa-l'ort Albert Road. «hereby Air. Levi Fletcher, n well-known and highly respected resident of Tauhoa, sustained such injuries thnt ho died, and his wife and married daughter wero also badly injured. It appears that Mr. Fletcher had driven to Port Albert in a double buggy, which also contained Miss Fletcher, Mrs. Jas. Clark, of Tauhoa, and Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Buckton (Mr. I'letcher's daughter), and their child. On the way to Port Albert the brake proved unsatisfactory, and when there Mr. Fletcher endeavoured to obtain some leather to effect repairs, but without success.

On tho return journey everything went , wc " until within five mile£. of Tauhoa, where there is a steep hill known as alshe's. Leaving nothing to chance, Mr. Fletcher tied the back wheels, with n piece of ropo. This arrangement worked well for some distance, the skidding of the wheels keeping the vehicle in check. The strain, however, was too severe on tho rope, which broke and the buggy, running on to tho horses, caused theni to bolt. They dashed down the hill at full gallop, but Mr. Fletcher was an experienced driver, and kept them well to the centre of the road. At tho bottom of the hill there is a sharp turn, and a few chains further along a bridge. As the animals galloped round the bend, the front seat of tho buggy tilted up, and Mr* and Mrs. Fletcher were thrown out. Mr. Fletcher still maintained his hold of the reins, and was dragged along tho ground against the bridge. The handrail of tho bridge for a distance of 14 feet was torn aw,iy. A trace breaking caused one of the horses to swing round, and this■ brought them to a standstill.

Mrs. Clark and Mrs. Buckton fell heavily on to the side of the road, while Mr. Buckton went right over the side of tho bridge, and landed jn somo mud. Had he landed. oil his head ho would havo assuredly been killed, and as it was his head missed'a log by inches'only. As a result of tho runaway all tho members of the party wero more or less injured. Mr. Fletcher sustained severe internal injuries. Mrs. Fletcher had both ankles broken. .Mrs. Buckton had her left arm broken in two places just above the wrist. Mrs. Clark sustained a painful cut on the back of the head.

The child escaped with a few scratches. AVith a mother's'instinct Mrs. Buckton had clung to her infant and prevented it from falling, although. slio broke her arm in doing so; •' 1 Mr. Fletcher was carried home on l a stretcher, and medical aid was summoned from ;WarkwOTth,7:bnt after lingering in great pain for' a' considerable timo he passed away. Tho others aro progressing satisfactorily. '' : ■' The horses escaped without injury. The general opinion is that had the buggy seat not tilted up the accident would never have occurred. Mr. Fletcher'was about sixty years of age. : ' Tho funeral took place to-day,' and was largely attended.' . r -.:■■. - >