WOMEN HURT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 48, 6 December 1948, Page 2

WOMEN HURT

Two Cars Collide ACCIDENT AT SEAFIELD Two women were injured when their cars were involved in a collision at the junction of Christie’s Road, Seafield, and Le Breton Road about 2 o’clock on Saturday afternoon. They were— Mrs Jean Thomas, aged 34, of 63 Trevor’s Road, Ashburton, who suffered head injuries and severe injuries to a knee. Mrs James Gregory, of Seafield, whose injuries were not serious. Both women are making satisfactory progress. When the accident occurred, John Oliver Morris, of 12 Church Street, Ashburton, was driving Mrs Thomas’s car, a 194 S Hillman, in a northerly direction along Christie’s Road, Seafield, with Mrs Thomas as a passenger. The other car, a 1936 Ford VS, was being driven by Mrs Gregory in a westerly direction along Le Breton Road. It is understood that Mrs Gregory’s car overturned, and both vehicles were extensively damaged. Morris was unhurt, but Mrs Thomas and Mrs Gregory were brought to Ashburton by ambulance, Mrs Thomas being admitted to the Ashburton Public Hospital and Mrs Gregory to Warwick Private Hospital. TRUCK DIVES INTO DULLER RIVER I TWO MEN BELIEVED DROWNED (P.A.) WESTPORT, Dec. 5. Two young men are presumed to have lost their lives when a motor truck operated by the Gibbs Transport Service left the road in the Buffer Gorge at a place known as Windy Point, some 12 miles from here about S o’clock last evening ancl plunged into deep water in the river below'. They were Brian Muff', aged about 22 of Greymoutli, and Jack Porter, of Westport. The driver of the truck, Ronald Inteman, of Westport, escaped through being thrown clear of the cab and was later admitted to Buffer Hospital suffering from minor injuries and shock. His account of the accident is that there were some large stones on the road near'Windy Point, . apparently having fallen from the hillside, and the truck must'have struck one of these, throwing it off the road and over the bank to the river some 50 to 60 feet below.

Rescue Efforts Fail

A following truck, driven by Max Sutherland, with Alan Kitto and John Porter, senior, the father of the missing youth, stopped to attempt a rescue but in the gathering darkness could find no trace of the truck or the men. , . A police party from Westport about 10 o’clock also searched until midnight without success and was resuming at dawn this morning. A diving suit was being sought at 0 o’clock this morning to probe a deep pool below the bluff from which the truck leapt. ■ . . Inteman told the police that lie had an impression that both the missing men had got clear as the truck was (Toing over. He said be had. hcaid them call'. When he himself struggled out of the river he could see nothing 'but oil slick coming to the surface and he fo.und no trace of his companions. About 40 persons are searching this morning, but only the bonnet and one of the lamps of the vehicle had been discovered by mid-day. It was impossible to manipulate dinghies in the fast current at the scene of the accident and a motor launch will be used this afternoon..