ANOTHER SERIOUS MOTOR ACCIDENT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3089, 21 May 1917, Page 4

ANOTHER SERIOUS MOTOR ACCIDENT

OX PAEKAKARIKI HILL. Paekakariki lull was the scene of ani oilier serious motor accident yesterday,, and as in the accident which happened;, at practically the same spot on thehill yesterday week, the occupants of tho, car had a marvellous escape from death.! A party from Hawera, comprisin(r Mr.; ami Mrs. Cleaver and their infant ased-i six months, Mrs. Barkla and her little »irl aged eight or nine months, were>! motoring from Hawera to Wellington,.! and all weui: well until the climb ot> the Paekakariki hill was commenced,; When the car was about the same spot; as the scene of the previous ' Sunday s! accident, the driver changed into the lorj gear, and was changing back to the) second when the sear slipped into neutral and before the brakes could be put;' on the car commenced to rim over the; side of the road—there being a sheerdrop at this spot. Before the driver; could do anything the car had backed, over the bant, a drop of about 70 or'SO feet, turning turtle three times as.it' fell. Mrs. Cleaver and her little Rirl, had time to of the ear before, it dropped over th"e cliff, but the other' occupants went over in the car. lira,. Barkla and her baby were thrown out of the car ttie first time it toned over, but it was not until the machine again turned over that Mr. Cleaver was thrown out How the occupants escaped deatli' is little little short of miraculous. Mts Barkla was injured about the back, and her baby was cut about the head. Mr. Cleaver also was cut about the head.: The injured people were brought into town by Captain Oram, of the Base He-, cords Office, who happened to come, aloiis shortly after the accident, and; were taken to a private hospital for treatment. • . ' . A well-known motorist, referring to thf above and previous accidents at the same spot on the- hill, gives it as his opinion that these accidents could be prevented if those in authority would put up a. fence on the roadside at the place in question.