PLUNGE DOWN BANK

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 54, 27 November 1930, Page 13

PLUNGE DOWN BANK

Car Somersaults Twice DEATH OF BOY Dominion Special Service. Masterton, November 26. The spot at Haunui (Eketahuna) where Hasley Ray Geange, aged 15 years, lost his life on Monday when the car in which he was travelling left the road, is described by his father, Mr. W. S. Geange, as a “death trap.” _ Giving evidence at the inquest, Mr. Geange, who was another passenger in the car, which was driven by W. C. Ricks, said that the car had approached a bad corner of the road where the hillside had been slipping, and there was not room to pass the slip with safety. On the top side posts and slabs had been placed to hold the slip up, and these bad been forced over with a big lean to the road. On the other side the road was slipping away, leaving very little room for vehicles to pass. The car approached slowly,_ and it seemed, to witness that when it got opposite the spot the roadway gave way and let the vehicle overturn. The car turned over twice and was on the third turn when it came to rest against a tree about 20 feet down tbe bank. Deceased was pinned under the car. The driver stated that he had approached the corner at between eight and ten miles an hour and had pulled up slightly to avoid some posts sticking out of the bank. The car had seemed to stop and turn over. In returning a verdict that deceased was accidentally killed by being crushed under a motor-car which turned over a bank, the coroner, Mr. J. D. Wilson, said that it was not his province to comment on the road; that was a matter between the settlers and the local body. Mr. L. Houlbrooke watched proceedings at the inquest on behalf of the Eketahuna County Council.