FIVE KILLED IN CAR SMASH

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 21, 20 October 1941, Page 9

FIVE KILLED IN CAR SMASH

100-Foot Plunge Into Wanganui River PARTY RETURNING FROM DANCE Dominion Special Service. WANGANUI, October 19. Five persons, three men and two women, lost their lives on Saturday morning when a car in which they were travelling left the road near Kaitieke and plunged over a precipitous cliff 100 feet high into the Wanganui River. The victims were: — ■ Richard Price, aged 40 years, mill hand, Manunui. Grace Price, his wife. Una Dorothy Humphrey, married, Manunui. Andrew Pattison, aged 19, single, lorry driver, Manunui. Cyril Joseph Dixon, married, insurance agent, Taumarunui. All the bodies have been recovered. The place where the car plunged is a deep gorge with a high cliff face. The Wanganui River at this point is narrow and swift and was running at high level when the tragedy occurred because of rains in the back country. Kaitieke, the scene of the accident, is 30 miles south of Taumarunui.

The party was returning to Manunui from a dance at about 3 o’clock in the morning when the car, a sedan, ■went over the bank, fell 100 feet and landed upside down in the river. The car was discovered by a passing carrier at about 8 o’clock in the morn ing.

ARMY TRUCK LEAVES ROAD

One Person Killed, Five Injured PALMERSTON N„ October 18. An officer was killed and two women and three other men were injured when an Army truck loft the track on the Ashhurst-Pohangina highway at 12.30 a.m. this morning. It tore down a post and wire fence for a distance of about a chain and finished up in a waterway 10ft. deep, Where it turned completely over, crushing the cab. Those involved in the crash were:— KILLED. Captain Robert Scott Beveridge, N.Z.T.S., Wellington. INJURED.

Miss Mary Magee, waitress, Palmerston North, fractured skull, internal injuries and burns. Her condition is critical.

Mrs. Alice Smith', waitress, Palmerston North, scalp wounds. Her condition is fair. » Lieutenant Donald Wakefield, Foxton military camp, body injuries. His condition is fair.

Sergeant Edward Charles Coates, Palmerston Showgrounds camp, severe bruises. His condition is satisfactory. Gilbert Hope, Palmerston North, shock. His condition is satisfactory.

The truck, which being driven by Sergeant Coates, left the road at a bend near Spur Road and in overturning pinned the occupants beneath the vehicle. Ready assistance was given by Mr. A. J. Pond, Frederick Street, Mr. L. G. Grover, Albert Street, and Mr. L. A. Greenhill, Union Street, who arrived on the scene within a short time of the accident. After evidence of identification had been heard an inquest held today into the death of Captain Beveridge was adjourned. Captain Beveridge served throughout the last war, going overseas with the Main Body. He held a number of appointments in the Army in the present war, being on the District Staff and in the Quartermaster’s branch. Captain Beveridge was married, but had no family.