SERIOUS MOTOR ACCIDENT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 4 May 1928, Page 9

SERIOUS MOTOR ACCIDENT.

OAR CRASHES INTO TELEGRAPH POLE. YOUNG WOAIAN BADLY HURT. A motor car accident, attended by serious consequences to -two of the occupants of -the ear, occurred near Ngaere last night. About 10.50 o’clock a 5-sea-tcr car, containing six -passengers, ■while proceeding from Stratford to Eltham, left! the Mountain Road near Cheat Road intersection and crashed into a fence and -a telegraph pole. The driver. Air AV. Hunwlck, of Midliirst, and Miss Mavis Ashton, aged 17, of Eltham, were severely hart. The latter received a fractured right thigh and severe injuries to face and skull, -while Air Hunwick was badly cut about the face and right hand. Miss Cora Smith, of Eltham, sustained minor injuries. The alarm -was given by a -neighbouring settler, Air Simpson, and the police and. Dr. Saunders, of Eltham, -were soon on the scene and sufferers conveyed to the Stratford Hospital. Inquiries made by a- “Stax” reporter this morning elicited the fact that -there was no change in the condition of Miss Ashton, while Miss- Smith would -he able to leave the, hospital to-day. The other of -the car, who were not injured, -were a sister -of Miss Smith, Air G. Vickers, of Inglewood, and Air P. Collins, -of Stratford.

Prom indications -on the road, the car, after .leaving the road, continued, on a diagonal, course, -for -about 30 yards on sloping ground, struck -a log which was lying parallel to a -wire fence almost head on, and -before hitting a telegraph pole, struck and broke off a stout totara fencing post. The telegraph pole, which was set five feet in the ground, -was pushed over to -an angle of about 45 degrees, and its load of 24 wires snapped. The car was practically wrecked.

This morning a repair gang from the Post a-nd Telegraph Department restored telegraphic and telephonic communication.

A Stratford Press Association message received this morning stated that Miss Ashton suffered' a broken thigh and compound fracture of skull with severe cerebral lacerations. She was in a critical condition when admitted to hospital. All* Hunwiek broke a bone in his right hand. A “Star” reporter who made inquiries from the Stratford Hospital at three o’clock this afternoon was informed that Aliss Ashton’s 1 condition was still critical.