MOTOR ACCIDENT ON IHAKARA HILL.

Shannon News, 25 January 1929, Page 3

MOTOR ACCIDENT ON IHAKARA HILL.

CAR ROLLS FORTY FEET DOWN BANK. WANGANUI RESIDENT INJURED. A serious accident occurred about three miles from Shannon on the main road just aft ( er 7 o ’'clock last evening, as a result of which, Mr Thomas O’Donnell, of Wanganui, was admitted to the Palmerston hospital suffering from severe back injuries. The car was a three-seatcr MorrisOxford and was en route from Levin to Wanganui, the driver being Mr Maurice O’Donnell, who had with him his brother, Mr T. O’Donnell, and the latter’s wife and child.. When going round a corner on the Ihakara Hill near Mr W. Swindlehurst’s farm, a Dodge car, driven by Mr Ronald Dun-bar-King, of Newtown, Wellington, was encountered coming up the hill. On the bend of the :oad the right front wheel of Mr O’Donnell’s ear came in contact with the back wheel af the Dodge, causing the former to get out of control, evidently through the breaking of the steering gear. The car ran across the road, carried away aboHfc a chain of the fence, worn: over the side and relied about forty feet down, the bank. The other ear, which contained three adults and two children, pulled up and the people in the smaller car were extricated. Mr 'Thomas O’Donnell’s injuries were found to -be serious -enough, to'warrant sending him to the Palmerston Hospital,. The driver, Mr M. O’Donnell'sustained several facial abrasions and scratches and Mrs O’Donnell and her child were severely 'shaken and bruised. They were brought back to Levin. The Dodge car was not damaged except for a dented wheel cap and mudguard. The Morris-Oxford, was badly damaged as the result of the accident. VICTIM STILL IN SERIOUS CONDITION. The public hospital reported last evening that Mr O’Donnell is still in a very serious condition, he having sustained severe injuries to his back. Although everything possible is being done, little hope can bo held out for his recovery.