FALL OVER CLIFF

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20129, 26 December 1939, Page 4

FALL OVER CLIFF

TINIROTO ACCIDENT ' CAR LEAVES HIGHWAY DRIVER SUCCUMBS SECOND MAN INJURED The Kaikoura Gorge on the Gis-borne-Tiniroto road was the scene of a motor accident in the early hours of Sunday morning which resulted fatally for a young man who was returning home with a companion from Gisborne. The car shot off the road and fell several hundred feet into the Kaikoura Creek, the occupants being thrown out in the descent. The victims were:— DEAD Moore, Leslie Trevor, aged 23, single, lorry driver, son of Mr. and Mrs P. Moore, Tiniroto. INJURED Naylor, Leonard, aged 45, station hand, Tiniroto, severe abrasions, condition not serious. The two men had spent part of the day in Gisborne and attended a picture theatre in the evening. Apparently they did not leave for home immediately after the pictures, but stopped to partake of supper. The scene of the accident, the Kaikoura Gorge, is about 35 miles from Gisborne on the inland main highway and is about a mile beyond Mr. L. Grey's homestead. The road ascends steeply above the ITangaroa River and turns to the left to negotiate the Kaikoura Stream bridge. The creek is noted for its depth. The road at the spot where the accident happened is narrow, the metal surface being about 15ft. wide, and protective concrete posts have been erected along the outside edge, but the wiring has not. been completed. Drop of 400 ft. The car left the road on a straight stretch of about 100yds. and fell down the steep face of the cliff into the creek bed below, a distance of about 400 ft. Mr. Naylor was thrown out 50ft. down, while his companion was found subsequently about 300 ft. below the road lying on a ledge, immediately above a sheer drop of 100 ft. into the bottom of the gorge. Mr. Naylor was fortunate in escaping with cuts and bruises and succeeded in clambering back on to the roadside, where he was found about 7 o’clock on Sunday morning. Mr. Moore was not so fortunate, his descent being eventually stopped by a tree, in which his arm was - caughi. His head showed evidence of severe injury and he was unconscious when found.

The discovery of the accident was made about 7 a.m. by Mr. Harry Campbell, a Public Works Department lorry driver of Hangaroa, who was returning from Tuai. Pie found Mr. Naylor on the roadside in an exhausted condition, but able to inform him that his mate was down the bank.

Assistance For Injured

After a brief investigation and finding that he was not able to render any assistance himself, Mr. Campbell hurried on to Mr. Grey’s homestead for help, taking Mr. Naylor with him. First aid was rendered to the injured man at the homestead by Mrs. E. Sutherland, and assistance was requisitioned from town. Constable Allen, Patutahi, took charge of the rescue operations, whilst a doctor and the St. John Ambulance also were called to the scene. Settlers also gave \aluable aid.

The rescue work was made difficult because of the precipitous nature of the country. Mr. Moore was strapped to an improvised stretcher and was hauled up by block and tackle from point to point until he was brought to the roadway. This was accomplished about 11 a.m. Mr. Moore failed to regain consciousness and was conveyed by ambulance to the Cook Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries at 4.30 p.m. An inspection of his watch revealed that it stopped at 4.30 a.m. just 12 hours prior to his death. The car involved in the accident was a three-seater roadster. Its accessories were scattered down the cliff face, whilst the wrecked vehicle could be seen in an upturned position in the creek below.

An inquest was opened yesterday morning at the Gisborne police station before Mr. Angus Fraser, J.P., and a jury of four. Formal evidence of identification was tendered by Miss Joan Moore, sister of deceased, and the inquiry was adjourned sine die.