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Hokitika Guardian, 14 January 1932, Page 4

Tirrc tragic accident on tlie* main south foa(.l will lie regretted on all sides. Its true details will never he known, hut the position can ho imagined. It has hoeii assumed that, the two ladies drove as far as the rough creek crossing near Waiknktipa bridge. 'I hey were proha hi v wise to return. for that particular noosing, is perhaps the most urgent remaining on the route, to he bridged. I l 'von in lair weather thi' crossing is rough, and its bridging is certainly desirable.. Upturning to Henries Face "reek, wiii-li is in ;i horse-shoe bend of the lead. tlie motor ear appears to have stalled. The < rook would not he unduly high. Hut heI'nre it rea.hed t’:c id, it cascades ,|nwii hill. ml may have hee’i noisy ~L (he time. In the ditlieulty to restart the (ar. 4 he ocnntanls evident!', became alarmed, and wlmt happened ihereafter is a blank. The ear was discovered later in the mime spot undamaged ip any way, hut the neon-

pants were missing. Their bodies were found later, mute evidence ot a most regrettable accident. The main south mad. particularly since all the rivers and minor streams have been bridged, was considered quite safe fur general traffic. The section on which the accident occurred has been improved greauv ot late, and is now a most attractive scenic route. With the exception of the one rough creek crossing near Waikukupa bridge, mentioned above, it would appear very little more could be done on the road, to make assurance doubly sure, as iegardii .safety in traffic. Accidents will happen, and happen unexpectedly in .what are considered ordinarily safe places. This appears to be the case in the southern tragic event now so generally mourned. There does not appear to have been ecciidion for the sad occurrence, and actually no blame can be attached to the road. Tt appears to have been purely accidental, and in that category like the railway bead on collision near Auckland, where, despite all precautions according to regulations, the engine missed the points at the critical moment, and there was not ard time left to recover the position. That was doubtless the case in the south—a critical moment arrived, and before the safeguards were possible, fatal results followed. It is indeed regrettable. For the. rest, we can only conclude that with ordinary precaution and due care such a gad fatality may not occur again-