CAR ACCIDENT AT MANGAORE.

Shannon News, 1 April 1924, Page 3

CAR ACCIDENT AT MANGAORE.

MR J. B. PROUD IN HOSPITAL. While on the way to Mangahao onSunday for a look over the electrical construction works in progress, a party of five Palmerston North residents had an unpleasant experience. Messrs J. B. Proud, L. J. Madge, H. Moore, F. Wort, and T. S. Madge (at the wheel), in a seven-seater car left Palmerston at about 10.15 a.m. All .went well imtil the necessity arose to make way , for, an approaching lorry, at a spot about three miles above the Mangaore power-house, on the Arapeti'hill. A car, wrivem by Mr L. H. .Martin., of Shannon, had stopped in front to allow the lorry to pass, when Mr Madge believing tihat the freighter could not negotiate the narrow passage afforded, endeavoured to give it more room. Unfortunately'the ground on the edge of the bank, sloping away to a 200 ft deep gully, was weak and would appear to have been "made up" after a slip at some time or other. At any rate, the road gave-in. the back wheel went over and the car instantly somersaulted, and was well on the way for a big smash-when it was arrested half-way down the gully by a friendIv tree. The driver and Mr Moore were the .first to part company with the big car, and .were ejected twenty feet below the roadside and brought up just below a. little ledge. They have a vivid recollection 6f seeing" the car flying over the top Of their resting place, after leaving Mr Wort close by, on to its final roll of 70 feet. On recovering their senses, they found the lorry party and Mr Martin's people had hastened' to the cax, alongside which Messrs Proud and L. J. Madge were lying. While not appearing to he seriously injured, both men had to be assisted to the top, where the whole party mobilised and awaited the arrival of Dr. W. ,T. Macdonald. of Shannon, for whom Mr CC. Franks had gone. Mr Proud was subsequently found to l>f the worst sufferer, and was taken down to the power-house on the enr seat-cushions. There a stretcher was forthcoming, and the fivi© men wrn t on to Palmerston North in { two ■cars hired from Shannon. Mr Proud wns taken straight to the hospital. Messrs Moore, Wort, and T. SM:i'Ve. got off with, a shaking and a few bruises; Mr L. J. Madge had sev-im-i1 cuts and scratches on his face, •■».i'd. was also bruised, while Mr Proud was rather badly bruised, and is suffering from shock. Inquiries made at the Hospital late last, night elicited the information (hat there was no cause for anxiety as to Mr Proud's condition, but that the extent of his injuries could not be definitely ascertained until he had been subjected to an X-ray examination this morning.. Messrs T. S. Madge and H. Moore wish to express tihe thanks of the party to Dr. Macdonald, Messrs Martin and Franks, to the driver of the lorry, and the several others who did all in, their power to assist the sufferers. ■' ■ ■ ; <

' The extent of the damage to the car was not definitely determined.