MOTOR TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 228, 26 September 1930, Page 9

MOTOR TRAGEDY.

SEDAN CAR IN RIVER. DRIVER'S BODY FOUND. RESIDENT OP HAMILTON. FARMER NOTICES TYRE MARKS. Leaving the main road on a-bend; on Douglas' Hill a quarter of a mile on the Whakatane side of the Waimana Gorge, on the road from Taneatua, a sedan car crashed into, the Waimana River gome time yesterday, afternoon, and the driver, Albert Robert Fallows, a resident of Hamilton, was drowned. The car was found in twelve feet of water with one door open. The body of Mr. Fallows was recovered this morning in the river some three-quarters of a mile distant. from the scene, of the accident. Passing up Douglas' Hill four miles from Taneatua, at 4 p.m. yesterday, Mr. G. Kirk, a farmer living in the neighbourhood, was. attracted by marks on the side of the road which indicated that a car had gone over the bank. He scrambled down as far as he could and discovered the car in the river. There was no sign of any occupant. He communicated with Constable C. Macdonnell, of Taneatua, who organised a search party.. Another party was organised at Whakatane. As it was getting dark when the searchers arrived very .little could be done .last night, but the search was renewed at daylight this morning, and the body was discovered by Mr. Kirk at 8.30 a.m. ; < .The bend where the car went over is not regarded as a particularly dangerous one. It is ■ just put. of the Waimana Gorge. The drop from the roadway to the river is approximately 3t)ft. It •is steep,- and according to the appearance of the car when salvaged this morning, it had- turned., a somersault on the descent. Curiously enough it had landed on-its wheels. The windscreen was not broken! The door on the driver's side was open, and the window wasj broken. The. river is -fairly low-and at the bend where the car- left .the. road is about a chain and a half in width. I The body was removed to Whakatane. Mr. Fallows was 32' years of age and ason of Mr. W. J. Fallows, of Pukekohe. He leaves; a wills and two children.. He was well known in Hamilton. -For a number of years Mr. Fallows was secretary of the Hamilton Suburban Tennis Association and a member of the Waikato Hockey Association executive. At the time of his deatli lie was sitting as Noble Grand of the M.,U. Oddfellows' Lodge. He was on .the staff.of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Co. for 14 years! Twelve months ago he joined the Goodyear Rubber Co. at Hamilton as a traveller. t He left Hamilton on Tilesday - morning for Gisborne.. He was expected back last : night. . , ; It is not certain ! whether there were any passengers in the car, but the. police are of opinion that tlie driver, was alone.