MOTOR ACCIDENT

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 191, 7 June 1939, Page 2

MOTOR ACCIDENT

CAR OVER MARAENU! HILL r OPOTIKI RESIDENTS * HURT FALL OF EIGHTY FEET Three representatives of the Opotile. County Council, who. attended the official opening of the t>vo bridges on the new Bast Coasts road yesterday, were injured early last night when the car in which they were returning to Opotiki left the road on the Opotiki side of the Maraenui Hill ,at a point known a's the “waterfall”. The car was driven by Mr. AV. AY. Upton and with him were Messrs. AY. A. Gault, county chairman and Air. J. T. Merry, county clerk. All the occupants were injured, Mr. Mferry and Al,r. Gault suffering from slight concussion, while all received severe abrasions and bruises. The car fell a distance of about eighty feet, the road being very steep at the point. Mr. Merry .was rendered. unconscious but others were able to call for help and their cries were heard by Mr. Clem. Black who was driving some distance behind Mr. Upton’s car. Mr. Black had been observing the lights of the car in front and when lie came around some bends and saw no sign of the other ear he at first thought it must have speeded up. He then heard cries and stopped to investigate and found that Mr. Upton’s car had gonei over the bank. Me went down to the oar and found that Mr. Merry was unconscious, while the others were also injured. A ’phone call was put through for a doctor as soon as possible and Dr. A. J. Brass proceeded to the scene of the accident. Assistance was secured from the Public Works camp in the vicinity of the mishap, and the men promptly gave every assistance in bringing tluvinjured men up the steep bank on to the road. The three men were placed on stretchers which are kept at the camp in thei event of accident and were brought into the Opotiki hospital. It is Stated that none of the men is seriously injured but all are badly shaken by their unfortunate mishap.