CAR OVER BRIDGE

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 May 1935, Page 7

CAR OVER BRIDGE

FATHER AND SON DROWNED [PEB PBESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, May 30. A father and son were drowned when their motor car crashed through the railings of a bridge over the Mangatawhiri stream on the Great South Road, about a mile north of Mercer, late this afternoon, and somersaulted into water 12 feet below, landing upside down. The victims were: — Peter Keay, aged 64, married, farmer, of Taipuha, Paparoa, North Auckland. Norman William Keay, aged 16. Another soil, Frank Peter Keay, aged 24, extricated himself from the submerged vehicle, and was saved. , “We were on our way home from' a visit to the Waikato Winter/Show, at Hamilton, said Frank Keay, after the tragedy. “My father was driving. As we rounded a. bend on to the bridge, the sun temporarily blinded him. Apparently, he realised he was near the edge of the roadway, and swerved sharply to the left, but the car struck the railings with terrific force. Under the water, it seemed a very long time before I could find an open window. The two front windows were open. I was sitting in the front seat alongside my father, and managed to force my way through a window. My father, however, was not so fortunate. My brother was sitting in the back seat, but was trapped, none of the windows being open.” The accident happened in full view of a party of 24 relief workers. Their attention was attracted by the noise of brakes being suddenly applied. On looking up they saw a sedan car swerve, carry away about 30 feet of the wooden railings, and plunge into the water. As the vehicle fell, it somersaulted, striking the water with the hood, and disappearing from sight. The men rushed through the scrub along the river bank, and they were on the spot within a few minutes. Three of them, H. Cooper, R. Marshall and R. Fleming immediately dived in, full-clothed. The water was muddy, and the car was completely submerged, the water being about 9 feet deep at this point. Fleming struck his head on the vehicle, but he was able to continue diving. The three men were attempting to open the doors of the car when Frank Keay came to the surface near the bank. He was partly stunned and was sinking, but he was brought ashore by W. Snelger, who waded in, and caught him by the hair. Meanwhile Cooper, Marshall and Fleming continued their efforts to open the doors, but were unable to do so. A rope from a lorry was attached to the back axle of the car, and the vehicle was turned on its side. It was then found possible to open the doors, and the bodies were extricated. Artificial respiration was immediately applied, and was continued until the arrival of the doctor, but without success. Keay leaves an adult family of three sons.