DRIVER DROWNED

Hokitika Guardian, 29 September 1930, Page 2

DRIVER DROWNED

CAR SWERVED INTO IUVER.

PECULIAR ACCIDENT ON HILL ROAD.

AUCKLAND, Sept. 26

Leaving the main road on a bend on Douglas Hill, a quarter of a mile on tlie Whakatane, side of the Waimana Gorge on the road from Taneatua, a sedaii ear crashed into the Waimana River some time yesterday afternoon, and the driver Albert Robert Fallows a resident of Hamilton was drowned. The ear was found in twelve leet ol water, with one door open. The body of Air Fallows was recovered this morning in a river some three-quarters of a mile distant 'from tlie scene of the accident.

Passing up Douglas Hill, four miles from Taneatua, at 4 p.m. yesterday Air G. Kirk, a farmer living in the neighbourhood, was attracted by marks on the aide of the road which indicated that a car had gone over the bank. He scrambled down as far as he could and discovered the car in the river. There was no sign of any occupant. He communicated with Constable C. Macdonnell, of Taneatua, who organised a search party. Another party was organised at Whakatane. As It was getting dark when the Searchers arrived, very little could be done last night, but the search was renewed at daylight this morning, and the body was discovered by Mr Kirk at 8.30 n.m. The bend where tlie car went over is not regarded as a particularly dangerous one. It is just out of tlie Walnut tta Gorge. Tlie drop from tlie roadway to the river is approximately thirty feet, ft i-; steep, a'lid according to the appearance of the ear when salvaged this morning, it had turned a somersault on the descent. Curiously enough it had landed on its wheels. The windscreen was not broken. The door cm the driver’s side wa4 open and the window was broken.

The river is fairly low, and, at the bend where the ear left the road, is about a chain and a half in width. The body was removed to Whakatane.

Air Fallows was thirty-two years of age and a son of Mr W. J. Fallows of Pukekohe. He leaves a wife and two children. He was well known in Hamilton. For a number of years Air Fallows was secertary of the Hamilton Suburban Tennis Association, and a member of the AVaikato Hockey Association executive. At the time of his death he was in office as Noble Grand of the M.U. Oddfellows Lodge. He was on the stuff of the New Zealand loan and Aiereantile Company for fourteen years. Twelve months ago he joined the Goodyear Rubber Company at Hamilton as a traveller. He left Hamilton on TuesdayWorniiig for Gisborne. lie was expected back last night. It is not certain whether there were any passengers in the ear, but the police are of opinion tbafc the driver was alone,