SPAN OF BRIDGE COLLAPSES

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 213, 4 June 1943, Page 4

SPAN OF BRIDGE COLLAPSES

Vehicles And Cyclists Plunge Into River

POSSIBLE TRAGEDY NEAR FOXTON

Through the collapse of the centre span of the Whirokino Bridge, which crosses the Manawatu River about four miles south of Foxton, two, possibly three, motor-vehicles with their occupants, and two cyclists were plunged into the river. The cyclists and the occupants of two motor-vehicles are known to be safe, though two persons were taken to Palmerston North Hospital, but there is no trace of an occupant or occupants of a third vehicle which it is thought may have been the first to go through. The centre span of the bridge has fallen away, "just as if it had been sawn through at each end,” one eye-witness states, and there is no trace of the vehicles in-the water below, though some of the woodwork of the span projects above the water. , Apart from a transport lorry which, because of vegetables seen rising and floating away, it is thought may be submerged, the first vehicle to go through the hole in the bridge was a jeep in which, it is stated, there were two marines and a woman. One of the marines was able to swim, and made his way tqthe south side of the river. He was Pte. Roust. His companion, Theldor Michael Drew, aged 25, either through injury or other cause, could not swim, and was aided by the woman, to the northern side, where two officers of the New Zealand Army had arrived und assisted them ashore. He was suffering from a severe cut just above one ankle, and was later sent by ambulance to Palmerston North Hospital, in an unconscious state. Before steps could be taken by those present to halt further traffic a private car, in whicji Mr. and Mrs. Peacock, of Whirokino Cut Works Camp, were on their way home from Foxton, passed on to the bridge and also went through the gap. Both of them were able to free themselves from the car and swim ashore. Mrs. Olive Peacock, who is aged 25, received some injuries, however, and she was sent to hospital. Cyclists Involved. Two cyclists also went through the gap when travelling southward from 'Foxton, but it was not possible last ni o ht to ascertain whether this happened before or after the cars -went through, but both of them managed to get to the riverbank Sa The police at Foxton stated- last night that it was impossible to see much ‘at the scene of the accidents, and it was not possible to say whether a transport lorry, as feared by those on the south side of the river, had been among the vehicles to fall into the river. It was stated, however, that the river was fortunately at normal level, otherwise the persons involved would have had considerably more difficulty in reaching the banks. The approaches to the bridge wej e barricaded off last night, and all tralnc north and south will have to proceed by the alternative route via Shannon. From the South Side.

Mr. S. Sloan, who resides a short distance’ from the bridge on the south, or Levin side, of the river, stated thathe had gone outside his house about (Au pjm. to get his car ready for a short journey when he heard a terrific crash, which may, he said, either have been the noise made by the (bridge collapsing, or the noise of the jeep going through it. He then heard cries for help, and with one of his sons got ropes and went down to the bridge in a truck at once to see it he could do anything. A number of United States .marines were already on the scene, having just arrived on the south side in a truck, and they were assisting Pte. Roust, who had by that time swum ashore. Roust was very dazed, and Mr. (Sloan took him to his home and gave him a hot bath. Mr. Sloan said those on the south side of the river saw vegetables coming up and floating down the river, and from that it was surmised that a transport lorry might Ibe under the water as well as the jeep and private car, but no trace of any driver of a third vehicle had come ashore on his side of the bridge. Mr W. D. Neville, waterworks foreman of the Foxton Borough Council, said last night that he heard of the collapse and went to the scene, arriving about 6.45 p.m. From the Foxton side, he said, nothing was seen of any occupant or occupants of a third vehicle. He assisted in attending to those who had come ashore there. Palmerston North Hospital reported late last night that the condition of both Drew and Mrs. Peacock was satisfactory.