SHOCKING TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 12 June 1929, Page 6

SHOCKING TRAGEDY

IN BULLER. GORGE.

TREE FALLS ON LORRY

TWO WOMEN AND A CHILD

KILLED

(By Telegraph—Press Association).

WESTPORT, June 11

A shocking tragedy occurred tonight in the Bullcr Gorge at 8 o’clock at Blackwater, whereby three . lives were lost and a fourth gravely endangered. The victims were All's Parker, of Jnangahua Junction district; her mother, Airs Southorn; and her infant daughter, aged less than one year; while a second child belonging to Airs Parker was gravely hurt. They were travelling in a motor lorry belonging to and driven by Air Parker, husband of the deceased, wh-en a big birch: tree fell on the front of the vehicle, causing the fatality. The scene of the tragedy is only about twenty yards on the Buller side of a bridge where last year the late Messrs »R. Watson and Atkinson lost their lives, when their motor missed the bridge, and went into the stream beneath.

Air Parker, who was formerly a timber worker, and is now a carrier (lie having only recently bought his motor truck to carry timber lor Burley’s mill iu the Gorge) was driving doy n from the Junction to Tiroroa. He had his wife, two children and mothci-ill-law as passengers in- the; cab of the lorry.' He pulled off to the side -of the road to allow one of Gibbs’ service cars, coming -from Nelson to Westport,-to - pass him. Just after the car had passed, a big slip came away from the hillside adjacent to the road, carrying the tree along with it. Ihe tree fell upon the cab of the lorry. It killed the two women and one of the children instantly. By a miracle, the driver himself escaped being struck, and got clear with some, injuries, whilst the second child was much bruised and cut.

Mr Quinn, who was on the car that had passed, heard the crash, and at once returned. Soon afterwards, AH' F. Turley, of Greymoufh, who was driving to Westport, arrived also on the scene. They found that the t-iee had struck the cab on the side opposite to that 'of the driver’s seat, knocking off the top of the cab and dragging the two women and the child that "were killed. AH three wore obviously killed instantly, their bodies being terribly mutilated. At firstthere was no sign of the dead infant, but on removing the mother’s body, that of the child was found. The second child was found "to have been severe!v cut about the head. Word was sent at once to the nearest camp of the 'Public Works employees at Tiroroa. the scene of the accident being between the second ami third Public Works camps. The men came and lost no time in extricating the bodies, and placing them on stretchers. The second child, which was rescued in a severely battered state, was at once placed oil the service car and sent on to the AAestport Hospital. The bodies of the three victims were also brought on to AVestnort, whore there will ho an inquest held.

Mr Parker, who has been a wellknown timber worker, was taken to the Medical Hut at Tiroroa for attention. as he is suffering ’ badly from shock. News of fhe tragedy created, a painful sensation iu ttlio Bullei Gorge locality. Great credit is ;.due to the men from the railway construction camps as they lost no time in coming to tile rescue. They Joijn'd . the I,j< r tree king across the road- along with a deal of debris and after extricating the bodies and the injured,they sawed through the hole of the tree in two places, removing it off the road, and also the mullock in order to restore traffic-facilities. Had not tlie lorry pulled in just when itdid. or the other car ca-me along at the time, the tragedy would have been averted. 'Hie tree fell on the. cab with terrible force; the bodies of the victims being smashed into an almost unrecognisable- state. The greatest sympathy is felt for the bereaved husband. *

FURTHER PARTICULARS. AVESTPORT. .Tune: 12. Apparently the tree fell oil the side of tht* call, and half tipped-the lorry which then righted itself AA lien rescuers arrived on the scene olf the accident, Mrs Parker and the infant were already dead. Airs'Southorn was lmried underneath the wreckage- and. the rescuers were unable to extricate her for a considerable time. The lorry was practically undamaged. The slip-was duevMo , the ff'esuft ,of heavy rain experienced .in the past- few days. This morning Parker and also the hoy were reported to he progressing favourably.

The tragedy occurred within a chain oil' the place where Atkinson and AYntson lost their lives.