ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 66, 5 March 1929, Page 5

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

I Par Pi ess Association.]

Three occupants of a five-seater motor-car were sent to the Auckland Hospital last night as the result of an accident at a corner when the car crashed head-on with considerable force into the end of a balustrade separating Albert street from a narrow road giving access to Darby street. The injured are:—John Stokes, married (34), severe gash on the back of the head and shoulder, cuts on the face. Condition serious. Mrs W. Thomas, broken arm. Athol Thomas, aged six. injured neck, concussion, as wel] as biting the tongue right through. The car vaa driven by Sydney Knight. The impact with the balustrade was very severe, Stokes being hurled through the windscreen. The car was extensively damaged.

James Rackley, aged 20 years, was drowned while bathing in the surf at St. Kilda, Dunedin, on Sunday afternoon. Accompanied by a girl named Marion O’Connefll, he was haUiinz about 100 yards on the Lawyer's Head side of the safety zone, which is clearly marked by two red flags. There were few people about at the time, but those who saw the bathers did not at first realise they were in any danger, as both swimmers were within their depth. On hearing the girl call out, another swimmer helped her ashore, while two others attempted to swim out to Rackley. A very heavy surf was running, and this, in conjunction with a strong tide rip setting towards Lawyer’s Head, rendered their efforts futile, and by the time they were able to reach the spot where Rackley was last seen he had disappeared. ‘ Rackley was employed at Shacklock’s foundry. The body has not yet been recovered.

While working on the Dunedin wharf yesterday, Thomas Long, a married man, aged 53. received injuries which necessitated his immediate removal to his home. A doctor was summonded to attend him at his home at 10.30 a.m.. and after diagnosing his trouble the medical man left, saying he would call again on Thursday. Earlv in the afternoon Long took a turn for the worse and at 1 p.m. the doctor was again summoned, hut before he arrived the man was dead. /