DIVE INTO LAKE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 222, 13 May 1932, Page 4

DIVE INTO LAKE

MOTOR VAN SOMERSAULTS OVER CLIFF INTO DEEP WATER DRIVER'S MIRACULOUS ESCAPE A motorvan travelling from Whakatane to Rotorua on Wednesday evening left the road on the bluff hil! past the Okataina turnoff at Rotoit and turning a double somersanlt ovei the precipitous bank fell into about 4(1 feet of water in the lake. The drivei Mr. Wyles, of Auckland, who was th only occupant, was thrown clear during the vehicle's career down the clif and landed practically unhurt in shalB low water at the edge of the lake. 8 It is understood that when rouixiB ing the bluff the windscreen wiper cS the van failed and as it was rainiajS heavily at the time, caused visibilit™ to become practically obscured ar8 the vehicle left the road and somerH saulted down the cliff, the bodfl breaking up in its descent. 8 The driver's cab came adrift arfl remained on the slope, while tlH driver continued his fall to the water® edge and the chassis bounced into tlfl deep water. Mr. Wyles, other thafl a slight cut above one eye and ■ severe shalcing, was uninjured. aj When he had crawled from tlH water, he looked round to see ilfl glare of his headlights shining frcflj the hottom of the lake, but these so'H went out. He then crawled hack to tiH road and was later brought in to SS torua hy a passing motorist. H Mr. Wyles is a traveller forHj manufacturing firm and it is statjH the pamphlets and eirculars whi^B were carried in the van,- may now, ^8 seen drifting into many of the along the shores of Lake Rotiti. jra It is believed that the vehicle total loss and it is uncertain fm whether any attempt will be made ^8 raise it from the lake bottom. |B