MOTORISTS’ DUCKING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 26 July 1927, Page 5

MOTORISTS’ DUCKING.

NIGHT PLUNGE INTO STREAM

MISHAP AT IN AH A

During the heavy rainstorm last evening an unpleasant experience befel a. party of motorists from the Patea district who were travelling on the Main South Road between Hawera and Manaia.

Visibility was poor owing to the rain. At- about 7.30 p-m. the car was descending the In ah a hill, and the driver, evidently under the impression that the -road bore to the left by the factory, allowed the car to bear -too far in that direction, with the result that he was unable to bring the vehicle back to . the .steeply rising crown of the road, and the car plunged into the stream beside the bridge. The occupants, six in . number, scrambled out-, some through the roof, and had to swim a few strokes to shore, but beyond the ducking, were none the. worse for the experience. The forepart of the car being submerged, it was not possible to switch off the iigllns, which shone through the night beneath the swirling waters. This morning the only portions of the car visible were the rear buffers. A mot-oi lorry wa-s employed to haul it back to the road, and it was subsequently lowed away for -repairs. Comparatively little damage was apparent to the car, though a new hood, a general overhaul, and the straightening of the front mud-guards will be necessary.