Fatal Smash

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 138, 28 June 1937, Page 6

Fatal Smash

MOTOR-TRUCK HITS P0WER-P0LE Maori Youth Killed, Companion Injured ■ " 1 GREENMEADOWS CRASH Moananui Tareha, aged 18 years, ,was killled instantly and Gerald James. also a Maori, aged about 30 years, suffered seijere internal injuries when a motor truck crashed into an electrlc power pole on the Napier-Taradale road at Greenmeadows early yesterday morning. Moananui was the second son of Mr. and Mrs. T'uird Tareha, of Waiohiki, Taradale, and James is a farmhand employed by Mrs. M. A. Perry^ of Otatara. The two young men were returning to Taradale at 4.50 a.m. after having driven a friend to Napier. They wero driving a new eight-cylinder light truck, the property of Mr. W. O 'Dowd. of Taradale. In negotiating the last bend in the road passing the Napier Park racecourse, the truck appeared to have got out of control and collided with considerable force with the electric-power polp at the intersection with Auckland load a few chains distant. The driver attempted to go between the pole and the fence, the off-side coming in contact with the pole. Mr. Percy Cross, who lives two or three chains away, was awakeued by the heavy crash, which was heard by pthers pver a miie away, and he was on the scene gf the accident in a very few moments to give assistance. Owing to the angle at which the truck was piled up against the post, Mr. Cross had difficulty in forcing the cab open Both occupants were in a sitting position. Mr. Cross, on making an inquiry, xeceived a reply from James, who was then not aware that his companion alongside him had succumbed. A motorist who arrived on the scene almost simultaneously with Mt. Cross went for the assistance of Dr. D. A. O Wdll, of Taradale, who arrived in quick time. The ambulanee was sent for, and James, who bled profusely as the re. sult of his injuries. was removed to the Napier Hospital. The police from Napier also were on the scene in quick time. The pole, which was fully 12 inches in diameter, a very tough iron-bark, was practically lifted out " of tlm ground. It was enapped clean off about seven feet about the ground. The top portion of the pole, which was of considerable weight, was kept suspended by the wires that it carried, as at this point leads branched in four directions Because of the dangerous angle ' at whdch. the pole hung over the truck, the cfforts of Mr, Cross to remove the occupants were made at some fisk, ais in the darltness the pole looked as if |it would crash across the truck. Some . of the 3000- volt electric wires snapped and fell to the ground, being alive until the arrival of Mr. R. Simson, a member of the staff of the Hawke's Bay Electric Power Board, who immediately took steps to switch off the power. As a result, the wEolo of the power over a very wi&e nren was cut off. The truclc was very considerably damaged Its lighting equipment, however, did' not f ail. The deceased, who was educated at the Napier Boys' High Sehool, was very popular_ and d-eep sympathy is felt for his bereaved parents and brothers ■ aud eisters. The inquest into the death of Moananui Tareha was opened this morning in Napier before the District Coroner, Mr J. Miller, S.M., and adjourned after evidence of identification had been given. No date has been set for the resumption of the inquiry. Tuiri Tareha, of Waiohiki, farmer, gave evidence of the identification of the body. He said that he last seen his son alive at 7.30 p.m. on Saturday evening, when he left home to att&nd a party at Otatara. !