SEVEN ROAD DEATHS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29479, 4 April 1961, Page 12

SEVEN ROAD DEATHS

Easter Total Drops (N.Z Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 3. A fatal accident near Kawakawa late today dashed the Transport Department’s hope of having one accident-free day during the Easter holidays. This brought the total for the Easter period to seven. There were 12 road deaths during the same period last year. The first death since 11 a.m. on Sunday occurred at New Brighton last night when a man was struck by a car. A car travelling south ran off the main highway near Kawakawa today, hit a culvert, and somersaulted. A youth was killed and anqther critically injured, and two girls were admitted to hospital with cuts. The name of the youth killed was not available tonight. Abraham Lazarus, of Wellsford, suffered severe head injuries and shock, and was admitted to the Bay of Islands Hospital, where his condition tonight was described as serious.

Other passengers, Lillian Williams, aged 19, and Betty Hepi, aged 19, were admitted to the hospital with cuts. Their condition tonight is satisfactory. There was fine weather throughout the country today except for coastal showers in Gisborne and Southland, but the danger period was not over, reported the Transport Department Traffic officers did not expect to relax till after midnight when traffic was expected to tail off sharply. No detailed reports were available tonight, as officers had been on the road all day and the returns were not available. Wellington motorists had been fairly good, but speed, following too closely, and careless overtaking were still major offences. Officers were expecting heavier traffic later in the evening, but hoped that the good record would be maintained.