CAR OVER CLIFF

Hokitika Guardian, 21 December 1933, Page 6

CAR OVER CLIFF

OHRISCHUR-OH INQUEST OPENS

(Fer Press Association, Copyright).

CHRISTCHURCH, December 21

The fatal car smash at Corfalr Bay on December 3, when Mrs Jessie Harris, aged 30, was killed, and George St,ant, aged 8 years, (and Kevin Stant, aged 0, seriously injured was investigated by Mr E. D. MosAy. S.M., at. the inquest this morning.

The car ' plunged two hundred feet over a cliff from the road above the bay. The driver was D. Ludecke, a factory overseer.

Oliver - Shukar, an ,eye-witness, said the car was pulled up at first, and then went slowly backwards, off the road on to the level bank at the edge of the cliff. The car stopped fo r six seconds near a wire fence, and the w6ma n and two boys' made to get out, when suddenly the car went backwards. at a speed of at least ten miles an hour, and crashed through the fence and over the cliff. It appeared to witness as if the driver bad made a mistake in putting his foot on the accelerator instead of the dutch. There was no reason why the car should have goneover the cliff. David Ludecke, the driver, said the car -was running perfectly on the trip -Worn Gortsrrtfor’s Bay to Lyttelton. At Rocky Point he decided to park the car-, intending- to go down to. the beach. After tulining the corner, lie stopped to see if everything-, was clear.' -. He put the car Til -reverse and backed towards the fence without any trouble .'When be put on the brake however, the car did not stop, save for half a second, and it then went over the bank. It seemed to gather speed »s it went downhill. Witness could net account for the accident. Witness had not a driver’s license, and had not driven much previously, though lie had had draiving lessons. A verdict of accidental death was returned.