MOTOR ACCIDENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 246, 17 October 1922, Page 7

MOTOR ACCIDENT.

CAR PLUNGES OVER BANK. ONE KILLED. TWO INJURED. (Ey Telegraph.— to "Star.') WELLINGTON. Monday. A distre?s;ng accident occurred near EketaJiuna on Sunday. While the driver' of a. motor car was endeavouring to negotiate a rut in the road near Ekrtahuna, tlie oar. which was bring driven from Palmcrston North to Wellington, plmipeil over an embankment and foil thirty feet, killing imp passenger and injuring tho remaining two occupants. Ihc casualty list is as follows: — KILLED. Mr. Corrie Ayson, Palmerston North, motor mechanic. SERIOUSLY IN.R'RED. Mr. George D. Ayson. Wellington, man- j ager International Correspondence Schools. INJURED. Mr. William Wilkinson Orr, Customs agent, Wellington. By Saturday's Auckland express, Mr.! Orr, accompanied by Mr. George Ayson, j •left for Palmerston North. There they met Mr. Corrie Ayson, and the three j set out yesterday, intending to drive to; Wellington in a motor car, owned by! Mr. George Ayson. ] The car was being driven by Mr. Orr,' who is an experienced driver. According to a report by the Masterton police, the accident occurred at 11 a.m. They were about four miles on the Masterton side of Eketahuna, approaching Maurice-! ville, when the car got into a rut in the water-table on the road. The road is \-ery narrow at this spot, and is not in good order. Mr. Orr endeavoured to get it clear, and, in doing so, the engine was' accelerated, and the machine skidded,' causing it to go over the bank, which I is stated to be about 30 feet deep at this spot. Mr. Corrie Ayson died on the way to the Masterton Hospital. His cousin was severely injured in the head, and was! admitted in an unconscious condition.) Mr. Orr was the least injured, and was! unconscious. i Both Messrs. Orr and Ayson are well ', known in mercantile circles in Wellington. Mr. Orr, who is a brother of the | Rev. Robertson Crr, resides at Ingles, Street, Seatoun, and enjoys a wide circle of personal acquaintances. The sad tidings of Mr. Ayson's death were conveyed! to Mr. Judge Ayson. of the Native Land 1 Court, who resides at the Hutt, and who could not be communicated with by telephone. Later detaile indicated that the accident occurred at a part of the main road known .to motorists as the Bowen Road. It is a very winding route, and the road was very muddy. When the car was examined last night by thei •Eketahu-na. police, it was found to be upright at the foot of the bank. The 3eft front wheel waa badly broken, the • •wind-screen destroyed, and damage done to the chassis. A passing motorist discovered the wrecked car, and immediately descended: to render help. He stated that he made the. injured men as comfortable as pos-; «ible, and went to a farmhouse, motoring from th«re to the nearest telephone, I which is at Manga.mahoe. Dr. Simmers, of Eketahuna, was advised of the accident, and motored to the spot, conveying all the sufferers to Masterton Hospital.! ■Although the accident occurred at 11: o'clock, the Eketahuna police, only four' miles away, were not notified till six o'clock. Inquiries at Masterton Hospital, elici-l ted the information that Mr. Ayson's condition was still critical, ibut'that' he had recovered consciousness. Mr. Orr| was stated to have slightly improved.