AMAZING ESCAPE

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 22, 27 January 1938, Page 10

AMAZING ESCAPE

PLUNGE DOWN HILLSIDE

HIGHWAY BOARD PARTY

CAR'S 100 FT FALL

Four members of a Main Highways Board party which left Gisborne on Tuesday morning on a tour of the East Cape route to Opotiki were injured, when the car in which they were travelling plunged off the road and over' a steep, bank on Maraenui Hill, about twenty-seven miles from Opotiki. The car rolled about 100 feet down a nearly perpendicular hillside, coming to rest almost in a normal position. Those involved in the accident and the nature of their injuries were: Mr. A. J. Baker, deputy chairman of the Main Highways Board, severely shaken and bruised; condition not serious. Mr.' C. J. Talbot, of Fairlie, South Canterbury Counties' representative on the board, cuts about the head and minor injuries. Mr. O. G Thornton, district engineer at Gisborne,'cuts on the hand and head and bruises. Mr. ,D. Rawlinson, of Wellington, driver of the car, bruised leg and cuts and bruises on the body. Only Mr. Baker was admitted to hospital after the accident. His injuries were not believed to be serious. The others were able to proceed t to their hotel at Opotiki after receiving medical attention. AN AMAZING ESCAPE. The accident occurred at about 9 p.m. and it is agreed that the occupants of the car had an amazing escape. The car made its plunge at a point well up Maraenui Hill, where the road is narrow and rather difficult It somersaulted several times, Mr. Baker being thrown out of the front seat as < the door beside him swung open, but the others remaining in the car until it came' to rest. The driver, Mr. Rawlinson, was hurled over the front seat in one of the turns -of the car and shared the rear seat with Mr. Thornton and Mr. Talbot for the remainder of the downward plunge. It was fortunate that the lights of the car continued to function after the accident, for by their illumination the occupants were able to render aid to one another. Mr. Baker was discovered on the hillside some distance from where the car came to rest, and was given such attention as could be rendered in the circumstances.'

RESCUE PARTY SETS OUT. y The party was on the final stage of a journey from Gisborne to Opottki, the car in which Mr. Baker was travelling being the second of iopx cars on the road. At the moment when the accident occurred this car was hidden from those behind by a turn in the road and it was not until the others arrived at the Torere deviation' camp that its absence, was realised. The possibility of an accident was at once recognised and a stretcher and firstaid outfit were loaded on a lorry and a gang of men wais conveyed back along the road. At a point about eight miles from the Torere camp the rescue party found Mr. Thornton standing at the roadside. Mr. Talbot and Mr. Rawlinson had to be, assisted in the climb to the road and Mr. Baker had to .be carried for the greater part of the distance. The precipitous slope of the hillside precluded pie effective use of the stretcher and some time was taken in bringing the injured to the road level.