WOMAN DIES OF INJURIES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 42, 20 February 1939, Page 6

WOMAN DIES OF INJURIES

TWO CARS CAPSIZE NEAR WANGANUI EIGHT PEOPLE ESCAPE A married woman. Mrs. Marjorie Hughes, aged 34, wife of Mr. A. J. Hughes, manager of the Fordell Timber Company, ot Hutchison Street, Durie Hill, Wanganui, died in the Wanganui Public Hospital early on

Saturday morning from injuries received when'the flve-seater car she was driving capsized on the main highway, li miles south of the city. Three others who were passengers in her car escaped with scratches and minor injuries, and five people in another car which capsized almost at lhe same time also escaped without being seriously hurt. The accident occurred on the straight piece of flat road south of Putiki and near the entrance to the rifle range at 1.45 on Saturday morning. Mrs. Hughes had driven to Palmerston North earlier in the evening. She attended a performance of the Russian Ballet, and, on the return journey, was accompanied by her brother Mr. B. Tovell-Soundy, Miss Beth Campbell and Mr. Douglas L. Sherriff, all of Wanganui. Ahead of them when they descended the hill at Marybank was a touring car with a canvas hood. Apparently, when passing this vehicle on the flat, Mrs. Hughes’ car skidded and somersaulted three times. Mr. Matthew Hill, of Putiki. who had four passengers wilh him in the touring car, when he saw the other vehicle capsize, tried to avoid it and after pulling the wheel over sharply he could not extricate his vehicle from loose metal at the side of the road, and that car capsized also, pinning the driver underneath it. His passengers, all of whom were only slightly hurt, extricated themselves and released him. Mrs. Hughes was found lying in the roadway near the other vehicle, suffering severe head injuries. Mr. Soundy, Miss Campbell and Mr. Sherriff were not injured, and prompt steps were taken to bring an ambulance to Mrs. Hughes, who died shortly after she was admitted to hospital. Both cars were extensively damaged. The top of that, in which Mrs. Hughes had been travelling had a gaping hole in it and the hood of the other car was severely crushed. Constables R. D. Gardner and S. E. Ankins were on the scene shortly after the accident, happened. Mrs. Hughes, who is the daughter of Mrs. Tovel-Soundy, Wanganui, was the mother of three children. Mrs. Soundy had travelled with her daughter io Palmerston North to take part in the ceremony to mark the handing over of Girls’ Flock House to the Women's Division of the Farmers’ Union, which took place on Saturday afternoon. Mrs. Soundy has worked hard as a member of the Wanganui branch of the division and the board of management of the home sent her a message of sympathy. She stayed at the home on Friday night and was there when news of her daughter’s death reached her.