CAR CAPSIZED INTO RIVER

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3538, 16 September 1926, Page 3

CAR CAPSIZED INTO RIVER

OCCUPANTS IMPRISONED UNDER WATER, Auckland, September 14. A strange accident befcl Mr. W. H. Dunn, of Auckland ,and a party while motoring along the edge of the Waikato River at Mercer on Sunday. The ear, a large one, left the narrow road and capsized in the river, pinning the occupants underneath it. It was only with great difficulty that they were able to extricate themselves. Mr. Dunn is uncertain as to the exact cause of the accident. He was at the time attempting to negotiate a rut and got into a heap of loose metal, which screwed the wheels and threw the car upside down into six or seven feet of water. The car came to rest on its hood.

The party of seven thus imprisoned under water consisted of Mr. Dunn, his wife, and two sons, aged four and six years respectively, Mr. Stewart Findlay, Mrs J. G. Cooper and her infant son. Fortunately the side screens were not up, and Mr. Dunn was able to extricate himself. Mr. Findlay followed, and together they rescued the women and children.

The only mishap sustained, apart from bad bruises, was a severe cut on the knee of one of the boys, caused through the wind screen breaking. The party has now practically recovered from its wetting, although the younger of the boys is not very well. The car was hauled out of the river yesterday.