EARLY MORNING TRAGEDY

Lake County Mail, Issue 32, 14 January 1948, Page 2

EARLY MORNING TRAGEDY

CAR HURTLES TO RIVER BED Tragedy marred tlie holiday season in Queenstown early on Thursday morning, when a car returning from a dance at Lower Shotover left the road at a spot known as Black Diamond Bock and hurtled 250 feet into the bed of the Shotover River. Three of the five occupants were thrown clear’ before the car struck a poplar tree at the bottom, but the other two received injuries from which they died. This is the first accident involvloss of life that has occurred in this district for many years. The victims of the accident were:—

DIED

Eileen Thomson aged 27 of Mataura, ■wife of Patrick Thomson, and daughter of Mrs Cowan, of Kana street, Mataura.

George Grant, aged 28, of Queenstown, single.

ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL

Patrick Thomson, husband of Eileen Thomson, serious injuries.

The other two occupants of the car, John Grant, and his wife, Jean Grant, suffered minor injuries, and were not admitted to hospital. Both the Grant brothers served in the Second World War and are members of a well-known Frankton family.

The car, a 1931 model, left the dance about 2.15, a.m. and was coming up the hill from the Shotover Bridge when.it met another car coming from the opposite direction. The driver of the Queenstown-bound car, George Grant attempted to dim his lights, but instead they went out. The car went on and veered over the bank, while the other car proceeded on its way, unaware of the tragedy that was just being enacted. The crash was heard at the Lower Shotover Hotel and by other traffic on the road. A rescue party was quickly organised after the arrival at the hotel of Mr John Grant, and members descended to the bed of the river with a wire bedstead to bring the injured out. Mrs Thomson and Mr George Grant were still living, but Mrs ’ Thomson died immediately after admission to the Frankton Hospital, and Mr Grant died in hospital later in the morning. There is no suggestion of drink being associated in any way with the tragedy. Constable P. Dougherty, of Queenstown was notified immediately of the accident and made all necessary arrangements to bring the injured to the hospital.

INQUEST

An inquest was held at Queenstown last Thursday afternoon before the coroner, Mr J. W. Miller. Evidence of identification was given of both ■deceased. The body of Mrs Thomson was conveyed to Gore on Thursday night.