MOTORIST KILLED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9477, 14 December 1918, Page 4

MOTORIST KILLED.

TRAGEDY NEAR IWETHVE/Wr ■'■■■. . y»»/

CAR GOES OVER BANK

A fatal motor accident occurred early last evening at the approach to the bridge over the north branch of the Ashburton River, about seven ; miles from Methven, the victim being' Mr Patrick O'Connor, aged 34 years, a. well-known Geraldine farmer. ;

In company with Mr 'Patrick Kel^ leher, another Geraldine farmer, Mr O'Connor had been on a business visit to tho Methven district, and shortly after 6 o'clock the two men left -Meth-i yen for home by motor car.: As , far as can be learned, they, had jusi reached the approach to the bridge;!' where there is a bend in the road/ when one of the front tyrea bursty causing the- car to swerve' and smash through a fence,', subsequently going over a bank and falling a distance of about 18 feet into, the'riverbed. ' j

Mr Kelleher was thrown out, ant) on regaining consciousness, about two hours later, found the car upside, down, the dead body of O'Connor, who was . driving, being .pinned to the • ground by the back seat, which flay v across his chest. 1

The police at Methven were subsequently notified, and the body- of O'Connor was removed to the Canterbury Hotel at Methven. . With the. exception of ■' a severe shock.. Kelleher is none the worse as ; , the reault'df'the accident." ; :' ' The deceased leaves a widow and v four children.

An inquest will be held at Methven to-morrow. '