TRAGIC SMASH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 August 1939, Page 6

TRAGIC SMASH

CARTERTON WOMAN FATALLY INJURED MASTERTON RESIDENT IN SERIOUS CONDITION. MOTOR COLLISION IN EARLY HOURS. (“Times-Age” Special.) A tragic motor smash occurred near Carterton between one and two o’clock ibis morning, as a result of which Miss Eleanor Irene Stubbs. 1!) years of age. second daughter of Mrs. and the late Mr. A. P. Stubbs, of Carterton, was fatally injured. and Warren Burling, aged _ IS, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Burling, of Aknra. Masterion. was seriously injured and was admitted to Croydon Hospital. . He is suffering’ from a fractured skull. The accident occurred on the main highway between the Taratahi Hotel and Mr. T. Ray’s residence, ab.out a quarter of a mile on the Masterton side of the hotel. A sedan car driven by Mr. Warren Burling, with Miss Stubbs, as a passenger, was proceeding southward to Carterton and a lorry, owned by Mr. E. C. Brenkley, Masterton, who was a passenger in the vehicle, and driven by Mr. Leo Rinaldi, was proceeding to Masterton behind another vehicle driven by Mr. Alexander. It appears that Mr. Burling's car had passed the first motor vehicle when a collision occurred with Mr. Brenkley’s lorry. The front and right-hand side of the car were badly smashed, the front righthand wheel being torn off, the mudguards crumpled up, both doors severely damaged and the front of the car being stove in. - The car appears to have struck the lorry behind the driver’s seat, the woodwork near the back of the lorry being torn away and the undergear considerably damaged. The indications are that the iron work of the lorry ripped through the side of the car. The car came to rest in the slush on the side of the road. The lorry was unladen. ‘ Mr. Ray, who was asleep, heard the crash and rushed to the scene, while lhe driver of Mr. Brenkley’s lorry at once summoned Dr. R. N. Campbell, of Carterton, and informed the police. Considerable difficulty was experienced in getting the occupants out of the car. Miss Stubbs was alive when she was ultimately extricated, but died on the way to Croydon Hospital, Carterton. She suffered dreadful head injuries. Mr. Burling was found to be seriously injured and was removed to Croydon Hospital. It is stated that it was raining at the time of the accident. Miss Stubbs and Mr. Burling were returning from a dance at Te Whiti. The late Miss Stubbs was well-known and very popular. She was an employee of the Wairarapa Power Board at Carterton and took a keen interest in sport, especially hockey. She was secretary of the Carterton Ladies’ Hockey Club and had been selected as a member of the Wairarapa team to visit Nelson.