MOTOR CAR OVERTURNS

Hawera Star, Volume L, 9 January 1931, Page 4

MOTOR CAR OVERTURNS

ALTON WOMAN’S DEATH

SIX OTHERS INJURED,

MISHAP NEAR PATEA CEMETERY.

Sustaining a fractured skull when a car driven by her father somersaulted on the main road near Patea about 3.45 yci-terday afternoon, Miss Saidie Alice Hodge, aged 21, died from her injury in the Patea Hospital at 4.15 this morning. Six other occupants of the car were also injured, some of them being hurled out on to the roadway as the ca r overturned.

Miss Saidie Hodge’s condition was precarious when she was picked up and was unconscious when admitted to hospital, her skull being fractured at the base.

Phyllis Hodge, aged 15, was also seriously injured, a collarbone being fractured, besides her having sustained severe abrasions. Her condition this morning was stated to be satisfactory. Annie Hodge, another sister, aged 17, sustained a nasty cut on a leg. Guy Hardcnburg, of Alton, aged 25, and Henry Apaturic, Palmerston North, aged 17, both sustained cuts and concussion, and Miss Marie Thompson, of Eaetihi, aged 18, suffered abrasions. Mr Sain Hodge, father of the girls, received cuts about the head and lacerations on both hands. He re-entered hospital this morning to undergo a minor operation for his injuries. Mr Hodge is a well-known farmer of the Alton district, and Mr Hardenburg, who is employed by him, was a member of the Manutahi factory staff last year. Miss Thompson was a guest of the Hodge family. Mr Hodge w T as driving his car, a - seater touring model, along the main road in the direction of Kakaramea, and when opposite the Patea cemetery gates, turned off the bitumen to pass a baby car travelling in the same direction. The car swung about on the broken side of’ the road and as it waa regaining the bitumen gave an extra lurch, then completely somersaulted and landed on its wheels. The hood, windscreen and steering gear were badly smashed and some of the occupants of the car were hurled out violently. Passers-by and an eye-witness of tne accident rendered what assistance was possible, pending the arrival of medical aid, when the whole party was conveyed to hospital.