A SENSATIONAL ACCIDENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 May 1917, Page 4

A SENSATIONAL ACCIDENT.

MOTOR DIVES INTO A DEEP HIVES

By Telegraph.—Press Association, Hamilton, Last Night A sensational escape from • tragi* death took place tho other day at Jfga* ruawuhia, on the banks of the Wain* river. It appears thai Me»Brs Easts, Death and Belllngham, of Hamilton, were proceeding to Wningaroa in a motor car, owned by A. Hyde, and upon reaching Ngaruawahia It was necessary ttf cross the Waipa rivor by means of * punt, which has been used since the collapse of the bridge. Upon approach-* ing the punt the driver of the car'CalN ed to the forry man to put up the barrier on the punt, and tho latter called out, "Come along, ctrivcrl" Ho tften, steered the car on to the punt, and ap-, plied the brakes. It was raining at the time, and upon taking the punt the car skidded towards the other end. Th« punt immediately sloped downwards, and the car shot over the end into twenty feet of water, carrying with it Enete and Bollingham (Death having jumped off as the car came towards the punt). The position of the unfortunates in the car seemed extremely precarious, the hood being up and both men wire fully clothed. bavins; their overcoats, boots and leggings on. The car sank to the bottom of the rijcr, where the inmates managed to extricate themselves, and came to the .surface. They were then carriea down by the current, but.eventually got ashore in a very exhausted' condition. A valuablo dog, tho property pf Death, which was tied in the 'back of the car, was unfortunately drowned. The car was hoisted out of the river ntfti day, and found to be none the worse/I'* 1 '* its involuntary submersion.