CLAIM AGAINST COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 22382, 4 July 1936, Page 14

CLAIM AGAINST COUNCIL

DAVISTOWN CAR TRAGEDY Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright 1 SYDNEY, July 4, (Received July 4, at 11.5 a.m.) The Erina Shir© Council, in the pierson of its administrator, Mr B. C. Hughes, has been served on behalf of the relatives of the victims of the Davistown car tragedy. With notices of action claiming a total of £14,000 compensation by reason of alleged negligence to place a warning sign or to protect the end of the road which ends at the wharf at Davistown, The council will defend the action.

[Six adults were drowned on March 29 at the seaside resort of Davistown, near Woy Woy, when two brand new sedan cars, containing eight persons, ran off the end of the jetty.and plunged into what is known as Brisbane Water. Two smashed a window and managed to escape. Six were trapped and perished. The victims were: David Missingham, aged 50, of Bondi; his wife, Rebecca, .aged 34; Irene Curtain, aged 35; George Boulton, aged 59, of Camperdown; Mrs Lois Acneson, aged 34, of Manly; Hunter Yuill, of Mosman. The two who escaped were Otto Lingham, aged 37, of Manly*and Miss Eve Stevveds, aged 23, of Mosman. Mr Yuill was driving the leading car. Visibility was bad_ owing to the heavy mist, and he failed to notice that the road ended at the water’s edge. When on the jetty he attempted to stop, but too late. The car following, driven by Mr Missingham, collided with the rear of Mr Yuill’s car, and both plunged 12 feet into the shark-infested water.

Mr Bingham and Miss Stevveds, who were riding in Mr Yuill’s car, were rescued by the local postmaster and his son, who heard a woman’s screams and put out in a rowing boat. i Both cars, with the bodies, were raised by means of a block and tackle.]