Fatal rally plunge
A young Christchurch rally driver was drowned on Saturday when his car plunged into a forestry pond near Otautau, trapping him inside. He was
David Batty, aged 23, a mechanic, of Flat 3, 41 Opawa Road.
Batty was driving his Toyota Corolla on special stage two of the Foveaux Radio National Championship Rally when he lost control on a muddy section of road in the Longwood forest and the car plunged intp a fire-fighting reservoir.
It landed upside down and was submerged, trapping Batty and his . co-driver brother, Alan Batty, inside. Alan Batty managed to get out of the car and escape from the freezing pond but his brother drowned. It was the first fatal accident in New Zealand motor rallies.
David Batty was a promising young driver, having won his class in the Canterbury national, championship rally two weeks ago and at one time being the youngest rally driver in New Zealand. His brother, Alan, was attended by Dr Jim Vause, who was driving a following rally car, then taken to the end of the special stage by Tony Teesdale, of Tokaroa, and on to Kew Hospital where he was treated and discharged.
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Press, 1 June 1981, Page 1
Word Count
197Fatal rally plunge Press, 1 June 1981, Page 1
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