LORRY OVERWHELMED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 February 1940, Page 4

LORRY OVERWHELMED

SUBMERGED BY SUDDEN FLOOD. DRIVER MAROONED ON ISLAND.' Owing to a rapid rise in the Waingawa River this morning a truck driver, Mr William Thomas, of Masterton, employed by Mr W. P. Mexted, carrier, also of Masterton, is marooned in a somewhat, precarious position on a small island in the middle of the river, about three hundred yards below the bridge. The river is in high flood, and is slowly rising. A strong gale makes it almost impossible to stand up, and is adding to the difficulty of Mr Thomas’s position. If the river rises to any greater extent Constable C. R. Reardon, of Masterton will endeavour to take a rope over to the island by following a shingle bank from a bridge pile, in the middle of the river. Mr Thomas was engaged in removing shingle from the river at 9.45 o’clock this morning, the river then being quite clear, but at 10.15 the water came down in a five foot wall and overwhelmed the lorry, which is a 3-J--ton truck. Mr Thomas scrambled to safety through the water to a small island in the middle of the river bed, where he remains at lime of going to press. The lorry is covered to the top of the cab and is slowly listing over.