MOTOR FATALITY.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 June 1920, Page 4

MOTOR FATALITY.

MRS. LAURA ANSFORD KILLED, CAR OVERTURNS ON HILL A shocking accident occurred yesterda/ morning on the Onaero Hill) about three miles from Urenui, resulting in the death of Mrs. Laura F. Ansford, wife of Edward Ansford, farmer, of Om&ta, and it daughter of Mr. John Brown, Range Farin, Mangorei. At 10 o'clock Mrs. Ansford and her husband left their home at Omata in a motor cat 1 , which Mr. Ansford wag driving, witli the intention'of going to Urenui. When going up the Onaero Hill at about 11.30, two cows Were found stand' ing in the middle of the road, obstructing the way, and as the road wag very narrow, Mr. Ansford let out hi* clute and applied the foot brake. The brake, however, did not hold, and the car skij}< ded backwards. The emergency brake was theh applied, but the car continued to skid and toppled over the side of th< road. . Both Mr. and Mrs. Ansford wera thrown under the car, and Mrs. Ansford' was severely crushed, while her husband escaped without injury. Mr. Ansford found his wife lying a few paces aw#y in an unconscious condition, and the ivas at the bottom of the incline, about sixty feet distant. Mr. Ansford then procured a car and started with hit wife for New Plymouth, Mrs. Ansford remained in A semiconscious condition all this timet and when about five miles from New Plymouth died. The body was taken to the New Plymouth hospital, where it ■.vas examined by Dr. Walker,.who staUs chat deceased had both collar bonus broken and five ribs fractured, the ribs having penetrated the lungs. There w#s also a large gash on her ankle. Mr. Ansford, in a statement oonestteing the accident, said that ftfter thrt emergency brake Ailed, the car skidded and went over the right side of ttw road, which was the'side on which h<t was sitting. He was underneath thd car when it turned over, and on looking up he saw his wife lying a lew" pacos away in an unconscious condition. The car must have fallen on her. A man and woman who live at the bridge came to his assistance, and he ,■ procured Mr. Smith's car and started to bring his wife to New Plymouth, but she died on tljo way. Onaero Hill has a fairly , steap grade, and he was travelling ab<>Ut 15 miles an hour. The road where the aetfident occurred was narrow and wet An inquest will be held to-day.