ENGULFED IN LANDSLIDE
Youth Killed In King Country
(New Zealand Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, Sept. 26.
A tractor driver’s assistant was engulfed in a landslide and buried under many tons of mud and spoil in heavy bush country north of Taurewa, National Park, at 3 p.m. today. His body had not been located when the search was given up for the night. A heavy tractor and its driver also plunged over the bank, but the driver escaped unhurt. The youth who was buried was
Thomas Oliver, aged 19, single, of Taurewa, son of H. Atiamuri.
The tractor driver was Harry Drake, married, of Taurewa. Mr Oliver was acting as observer for Mr Drake, who was forming a mill road for the Pokaka Timber Company.
The greasy surface of the scrubcovered steep face gave way and Mr Oliver, who tried to warn the driver, was caught in the sliding spoil. The tractor was also caught but it rode the crest of the slide. Mr Drake remained in the seat of the machine and was unharmed. Mr Drake worked for an hour in an unsuccessful attempt to uncover his assistant. He then summoned help, and 50 mill workers under the direction of Constable T. Henderson, National Park, dug to find him.
The attempt was abandoned al 8 p.m. The search will be continued tomorrow.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28702, 27 September 1958, Page 12
Word Count
222ENGULFED IN LANDSLIDE Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28702, 27 September 1958, Page 12
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