CAR FALLS INTO FLOOD

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 79, 16 March 1935, Page 8

CAR FALLS INTO FLOOD

1 e i Occupants Struggle for Life J TWO PEOPLE INJURED i i ( By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, March 15. 1 Seven people had to struggle for their lives when a van plunged into Jackson's Crock, a raging torrent in , the Brigham's Creek district, at an > early hour this morning. Two were f later admitted to the Auckland hospi--1 tai. They were: Mrs W. Nixon, of . Whenuapui, who suffered a severe cut I on the leg; her conditions is satisfae r lory; Mr Michael McDonnell, of AVhen--1 uapai, concussion and broken arm. McDonnell was swept away by the torrent but he clung to a tree until he was rescued. His condition is fairly serious. The passengers in the van were Mr [■ W, IL North, Mr and Mrs W. J. Nixon, i Mr and Mrs McDonnell, Airs 11. J. . North and Airs L. W. Sinton. They • are all residents of Whenuapai. The party was returning from a meeting, j Heavy rain earlier had swept away the - culvert. A flood was raging in the 1 gully and the van was precipitated into ' the water. Three of the occupant* were thrown into the flood waters and the others were, left in the washout. They struggled to reach the bank and Air North and Airs Nixon were ■ rescued with difficulty. It was then found that Air AlcDonnell was missing. Search was made along the banks of the creek, and finally he was found clinging to a tree, much exhausted. He had to be hauled 20 feet up » steep bank by means of a rope.