BLOWN TO PIECES

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 4 March 1926, Page 7

BLOWN TO PIECES

MOTOR AND DRIVER.

BRIDGE FOREMAN’S DEATH

WAS CARRYING EXPLOSIVES IN

HIS CAR

(by TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.) PALMERSTON N., March 4. A most shocking fatality occurred near Shannon this morning, when a five-seater motor-car and its sole occupant, Mr. W. Campbell, of Tokomaru, were literally blown to pieces by an explosion caused, it is believed, by some explosives which were being carried in the vehicle. Air. Campbell, who was a well known and highly respected resident of the district,' was bridge foreman for the Makerua Drainage Board, resided at Tokomaru. He was a widower, his wife having died some txvelve months ago. There is n family of ten, the oldest girl, aged 17 years, being at the present time a patient in the Palmerston North Hospital. Air. Campbell apparently came down as usual this morning from Tokomaru to the Alakerua Drainage Board’s works about two miles from the town of Shannon, the point on which the workmen arc at present operating being approximately a mile off the main roach Deceased went to a whare nearby in his motor-car, apparently to secure supplies necessary for the work. He was returning to the scene of operations when a terrific explosion "was heard by those at the drainage works, and even in Shannon.

Afessrs. Payne and Barron, who were working on the drains, made their way with all possible speed to the scene of the explosion, which was about a quarter of a mile distant from the whare visited by deceased. It was found that the explosion had originated from the motor-car itself, the vehicle being torn to pieces and fragments hurled a great distance away. Of the body of the occupant only small fragments could be found, he having been literally blown to pieces and being, of course, killed instantly.

Parts of the body were found a hundred yards away from the scene of the shocking tragedy. It! is surmised that explosives were being carried in the motor-car and that they detonated in some fashion with the jolting of the vehicle. The scene of the fatality is a by-road a little distance from the main Wellington-Palmerston North highway.