MANUTAHI ACCIDENT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 9 November 1925, Page 9

MANUTAHI ACCIDENT.

FURTHER DETAILS. MR PEARCE’S CONDITION IMPROVED. Further details concerning the accident in the Manutahi gorge last night are to hand.

It appears that the car, a five-eeater Dodge, contained six passengers, but one, Mr M. Crawford, got out at the Manutahi factory, just at th© top of the gorge. The car continued on towards Kakaramea, but the accident occurred on the incline on the opposite side of the gorge from the factory, there being another car on the road at the time and coming the opposite way. Mr Pearce’s car broke through the fence and, turning over and over. on .its side, rolled down a precipitous incline and came to rest- upside down about 40 feet below the level of the road. Two of the five occupants, a man and a girl, escaped with severe bruises, and' after doing what they could for their less fortunate companions, walked up the hill to the factory to obtain help. The accident occurred at about 1 a.m., and the two uninjured passengers arrived at the factory at 2.15 a.m. Mr C. McQueen (the factory manager) and Mr M. Crawford w«ce quickly on the scene, and Mr McQueen drove into Patea to obtain the assistance of Dr. Simmons. It was about 3 a.m. when Dr. Simmons arrived at the scene of the accident, and after doing what he could the three injured persons, Messrs Pearce and O’Gradv and Miss Holden, were removed to the Patea Hospital. Mr Pearce was the only one seriously injured, but inquiry at. the hospital late this afternoon elicited the information that he was a little better.