CRUSHED UNDER CAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 72, 26 March 1932, Page 7

CRUSHED UNDER CAR.

ELDERLY MAN'S DEATH.

WIFE AND SON ESCAPE

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

CHRISTCHURCH, Friday.

An Ashburton resident, Mr. William Bowden, was killed when a motor ear, in which he was being driven by his son, Mr. J. W. Bowden, overturned early this evening between Arthur's Pass and Otira. The driver and the other passenger, Mrs. Bowden, wife of Mr. Bowden, sen., escaped without the slightest injury.

The car was approaching the top of the long zig-zag hill at about five o'clock, Mrs. Bowden was in the front seat, and Mr. Bowden, sen., was alone in the back seat. About two chains from the top of the hill the driver attempted to change from second to low gear, missing the mesh and losing control of the car, which ran into a bank.

Immediately after the accident Mr. Bowden, sen., started to get out of the car, but before he could get clear the vehicle lurched over on its side on top of him. His body .was released as soon as possible, but death must have been instantaneous.

Mr. Bowden was aged about 70 years and for the past 30 years had been secretary and accountant to Messrs. Lane, Walker and Jtudkin, woollen- manufacturers, of Ashburton. JrTe was previously in the employ of the D.I.C. in Dunedin. Mr. Bowden was widely known in Canterbury. Other members of his family are Mr. H. L. Bowden, town clerk of Takapuna; Mrs. A. Bushell, of Ashburton, and Mrs. H. Maunsell, of ParnelL