A MOTOR SMASH.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3571, 6 September 1920, Page 5

A MOTOR SMASH.

.CAR GOES OVER A CLIFF. A local taxi-driver named W. Johnston, and two ladies and three gentlemen who were passengers in the car, had a harrow escape from death late on Saturday night. The party weie being conveyed from Wainui to Taihape by car, and when rounding a corner above the brick kiln on the Wainui Road the driever tried to avoid a gig which was being driven in the opposite direction. It is claimed that the driver of the gig was proceeding without lights. The motor car struck the protective fence at the top of the cliff, crashed through, and somersaulted to the bottom, nearly one hundred feet below Hie road. The occupants were thrown out on the way down, but the car had turned two somesaults before Hie driver was thrown clear. The occupants were badly shaken but none of thefm were severely injured and managed to regain the road. It is alleged that the driver of the gig continued on his way without stopping to ascertain what had become of the party in the car. The motor-car was bachy smashed. and 'is lying at the foot of the cliff. Ohc locality has always been a dangerous one and protective fencing wa s erected there some years ago on account of accidents which had occurred. Thp six occupants of the car must have had a miraculous escape from death.