LUCKY ESCAPE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1930, Page 3

LUCKY ESCAPE

ON A NINETY FOOT DECLIVITY

Hy Telegraph—For I'ress. .Association.)

WELLINGTON, February 20

To drop over a. stoop bunk ; 9.0 feet in height .utlii Ist driving; a :hpav.v motor lorry laden with, earth, and yet escape '“.s"ot: free” • was: the experience today of Mr Morgan, " contractor: for the removal'.of all spoil from a big jcut-* t ug. The work is’ being ■ done . with the aid of a fleet of motor lorries, each of which, carries ' about two tons of earth each tnp. The dump ■■•is' inr.o a r ni”v. The modus operandi is for each lorry as it arrives on the scene to bade slowly to the edge of the filling, and tip its load backwards. The fill:,m naturally is on a very steep, grade, as the level of the street is about 90 ,- eet above the bottom of the gully or ravine r'uv being filled in. At about 11 a.m. Mr Morgan, who drives one of Ins own lorries, arrived with a full load, and was backing to the edge vlieii, it- is understood, 1 soirietliing’ blocked tlie accelerator feed for a nio-'

nient. ’' Tlien suddenly tlie- blockage was released and the lorry' shot brickover the edge, toppled over bn its' side and slipped downwards. About 30 feet from tlie bottom the yeliiejd Hid "h Somersault, and then, curious to relate landed 'upright, at the foot'of the slope. Fortunately tlie slide was composed of loose earth, which , must have ‘ checked the velocity of. the sliding vehicle, for before" it somersaulted Afr Moi'pm was. able to jump out of the cab, and clear, of tlie falling vehicle. Mr Morgan considered himself lucky to get out of ,'t with his life. -