Truck And Load Of Pigs In Swamp

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30092, 28 March 1963, Page 16

Truck And Load Of Pigs In Swamp

(New Zealand Press Association)

NEW PLYMOUTH. March 27. An Okato driver had a narrow escape from death when a truck he was driving sheered the side off a wooden bridge over the Waiokura river and then rolled over into a swamp in a spectaculai accident haff a mile east of Manaia just after 6 p.m. today. Clouds of smoke and steam poured from the diesel-driven vehicle and the Manaia Volunteer Fire Brigade was rushed to the scene when it w’as learned that the driver was trapped in the cab. The vehicle did not burst into flames The driver. Manu Konga. aged 27. was pulled to safety some time after the crash suffering only from shock and minor cuts. The truck, which was

travelling towards Hawera, was carrying a load of pigs when the accident occurred The pigs broke loose when the vehicle rolled over and careered round in the stream and on the road for some time before they were rounded up None was badly hurt. The crash occurred outside the home of the Manaia Fire Chief, Mr L C. Moore, who telephoned the brigade when he feared the ,truck would catch fire. Police said tonight the whole side of the bridge was sheered off in the crash and considered the driver lucky the truck did not land in. the river Instead it came to rest in the swamp beyond the bridge Mr Konga was treated at the scene by a doctor. The truck, which is owned by the Roebuck Carrying Company, Okato, was extensively damaged.