POIGNANT STORY OF DOUBLE TRAGEDY

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 174, 13 October 1927, Page 16

POIGNANT STORY OF DOUBLE TRAGEDY

FATHER AND DAUGHTER DROWNED WHEN CAR CAPSIZES IN CREEK (Special to THE SUN.) WANGANUI, To-day. A DOUBLE tragedy, resulting in the deaths of Paul Fromont, aged 49, and his only daughter Stella, aged 25, occurred last night, when a light motor van crashed through tne rail of a bridge over the Matarawa Stream and capsized in the creek below. The two victims, together with Bro * mont’s niece, Lettie Murphy, aged 18, were sitting :in the front seat of the van on their way home from the Catholic Church. As they approached the small wooden bridge over the stream Fromont saw another car approaching. He dimmed his lights, but before he could switch them on again the car had run up the approach to the*, bridge, striking the rail and capsizing into the water, with its four wheels in the air. Miss Murphy freed herself by almost superhuman efforts, and, struggling up the bank, waved to attract attention. A passing motorist summoned assistance. It took some time to get ropes and tackle to move the car, and it was almost half an hour before it was possible to take the bodies from beneath it. When the vehicle was' lifted clear Mr. McDia.mond dived under it at considerable risk and brought the bodies to the bank. Miss Murphy, who was suffering from severe shock and numerous abrasions, was hurried to a house near by and later admitted to hospital. Fromont had been employed by the Wanganui City Council for nearly 26 years and was foreman of the works. He is survived by nine sons.