ROAD MISHAPS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 110, 3 February 1930, Page 12

ROAD MISHAPS

CAR PLUNGES INTO SWAMP UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE OF WELLINGTON PARTY Dominion Special Service. Auckland, February 1. An unpleasant experience befe) some tourists a mile north of Mercer about 4 o’clock on Friday afternoon. Mr. F. H. Dwan, of Wellington, was driving with his wife and two.young children along the new road raised through the swamp when, apparently owing to pot-holes and loose metal, the car failed to respond to the steering wheel on a bend and plunged over the embankment into the swamp. At this point the swamp is several feet deep in water. With the first plunge thecar fell on its side and was completely submerged, but it partially righted itself. This enabled Mr. and Mrs. Dwan to clamber out. The two young children were in the back seat at the time asl.eep and, although one was safe, all the distracted parents could see of the other was his legs above water, but, grasping these, they managed to pull him into safety. Finally the family regained the road, drenched to the skin and suffering from shock and a few cuts from broken glass. They were taken back to Mercer, where hot baths, dry clothes and kindly attention soon restored them. Mr. and Mrs. Dwan were on a holiday trip from Wellington and were on the way to Auckland. Everything they carried was soaked in swamp water, and dripping suitcases, overcoats, rugs, etc., testified to the damage done. They had a remarkably lucky escape from death. Had the accident occurred a fortnight ago when the water in the swamp was four feet higher loss of life would have been Inevitable. The car was later pulled out of the swamp. TWO INJURED AT INVERCARGILL By Telegraph.—Press Association. Invercargill, February 2. Norman Baird, a lad aged 13, residing at Myross Bush, was travelling with, his father in a motor-car when a collision occurred yesterday about 7.30 p.m. with another motor-car at the intersection of Ellis Road and Tay Street. The boy was admitted to hospital with a bad cut in the head caused by splintered glass. A few stitches were inserted and his condition is reported quite favourable. James Thomson, a farm labourer, single, aged 20, was riding a motorcycle when at the intersection of Kelvin and Gala Streets he collided with a motor-car on Saturday at 7.40 p.m. He was admitted to hospital suffering from a compound fracture of the left leg. He was operated upon this morning and is progressing favourably. DAZZLE CAUSES ACCIDENT INQUEST ON MOTORIST. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Gisborne, February 1. At the inquest in connection with the death of Francis Eugene Barry, who was killed in a motor accident near Tokomaru Bay last Saturday night when the car he was driving went over a bank, the Coroner found that the accident was due to Barry being momentarily dazzled by the lights of an approaching car.