FOUND DAZED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 232, 2 October 1933, Page 8

FOUND DAZED.

VAN DRIVER'S SMASH. THROUGH CONCRETE BRIDGE. VEHICLE IN RIVER. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) rUKEKOHE, tliis day. Severe injuries were received by Roderick Langsford, aged 28 years, sliop assistant, of Paerata, when a motor van \vliieh he was driving crashed through the side of a ferro-concrcte bridge over the Whakapipi Stream on the PukekolieTuakau Road, about 9.30 last night. The van hit the corner pillar of the bridge, levelled the iron railings, for a distance of about nine feet, and turned a complete somersault, landing upside down in six or seven feet of water about 12 feet below the bridge. The brakes had evidently been applied some distance back, for skid marks could be sr;-n on the road approaching the bridge. How the injured man escaped is a mystery, for the vehicle was completely covered by water. Mr. David Booker, who lives about a quarter of a mile on the f l uakau side of the bridge, stated that he was sitting in his house about 9.30 p.m. when he heard a loud crash in the direction of the bridge. Accompanied by his urotlier-in-law, Mr. Anandale, lie went to investigate and found the injured man staggering around the bridge in a dazed condition. His head and arm were uadly cut and his clothes- .vcrc soaking wet. On looking over the side of the bridge Mr. Booker noticed a capsized vehicle ill the stream. A passing car. conveyed the injured man to Burwood Private Hospital, at Pitkckohe, whera he wa-s attended by Dr. Douglas. He was later conveyed to the Auckland Hospital sufleiiug from severe concussion, also cuts and aurasions. The Pukekohe police ascertained that Mr. Langsford was the only occupant of the vehicle when the accident occurred. Roderick Langsford regained consciousness in the Aupckland Hospital about 11.30 this morning, but was unable to tell how the accident happened.