PLUNGE INTO SEA

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 121, 25 May 1933, Page 6

PLUNGE INTO SEA

MOTORIST'S ESCAPE

HEAVY AUCKLAND FOG

(By Telegraph.) (Special to the "Eveninu Post.") AUCKLAND, May -2i. A heavy blanket of fog feettled over the haibour and. low-lying suburbs lait evening, und did not hually disperse until shortly bei'oie S o'clock this mom-, ing. Motorists, tiam-ihivcrs, and inastcis oi vessels had to cierciso the greatest caution and horns, bells, aud siieus ucie sounded at frequent intervals. A remai liable escape from injury and drowning was expciienccd by a young Beniucra resident, Mr. K. D. Hoiton, about 2 o'clock this morning, when ho mistook the load and diove big saloon car over the wharf and plunged into tho harbour on the western wateifront. Returning from Herue Bay in the dense fog, which had enveloped tho city and harbour, he was making for Customs Street and took tho route via Fanshawo Street and tho City Maikots. After passing along the back of Tumeis and Groweis' buildin <r, and being under the impiession that the lights on the vijduct which loomed through the i'og wcie those of tho Customs Street Extension, ho went straight ahead instead of turning to the aight. When hh cat loft the concrete road and reached the roughly-planked wharf in front of tbte-Government-oyster depot he realised that he had mistaken the route, but, not that danger was; imminent. He was about, to ; pull up when his car hit the low railing ou the edge of the wharf and plunged into the harbour about twelve feet below. /Fortunately, he was not injured, aud was "able'to'unwind the front window and scramble out of the vehicle as tho water rushed in, and float to the surface. , . ■ -" - . ,' .-■■ ..-■■' ; • /. '■' Constable Wilson, who was on dutyin the vicinity, heard the car.plunge into the harbour, and in response /io the calls of the motorist, who was clinging to the piles, lowered" d rope and hauled him to the wharf.'; Oil and petrol bubbling on the, surface this morning revealed the spot where the car lay submerged, and attracted a lot of sightseers. The services of a diver were secured, and after he had placed the ropes round the vehicle it was hauled from the harbour by a floating crane.