Car Plunges Over Sixty-foot Bank

Horowhenua Chronicle, 10 September 1934, Page 8

Car Plunges Over Sixty-foot Bank

SERIOUS MOTOR SMASH OCCURS NEAR FEILDING THREE PERSONS IN HOSPITAL Some time between two and five o’clock yesterday morning a Ford car, containing six young people, failing to negotiate a bend on the narrow Arapata road, between Stanway and Waituna West, left the road to come to rest 60 feet below a complete wreck, Three of the occupants were more or loss seriously injured and arc now inmates of the Palmerston North Public Hospital. The injured, all Feilding residents, arc: — Victor Monk, aged 20; fractured thigh, Bert Pilcher, aged 20; injured back. Miss L T na Tylie, aged 19; injured thigh. The accident occurred when the occupants were returning from a party in celebration of the recent marriage of Mr., and Mrs. Smith, who reside on the Tawera property, where the former is employed. On Saturday evening William Monk, Victor Monk, Thomas Monk, . Bert Pilcher, R. Strawbridge and Miss Tylie left Feilding in a hired car to attend the party, • Before they presented themselves at the home of Air. and Airs. Smith, however, they went along the Arapata road to pick up two friends near the Curtis homestead.

After the party, which concluded around about 2 a.m. on Sunday, the six visitors from Feilding loft in the car, taking with them the two friends, who were to he taken back along the narrow, winding Arapata road to their home. After safely delivering these friends the journey back to Feilding commenced and it was while negotiating this road —which is not the best of back-country roads even in daylight—that the ear failed to take a corner and plunged over the edge and down the (50-foot drop. In the darkness with the ear smashed and some of the occupants seriously injured the utmost confusion prevailed and this was increased by the uncertainty of just where they were. Despite her injuries Aliss Tylie managed to struggle to the road and make for the home of Air. R. D. Younger, while the other members of the party arrived at the home of Air. Curtis. Actually it was some time before the settlers in the vicinity were aware of the accident for it was not until 5 o ’clock yesterday morning that the Feilding doctors were informed. Meanwhile Victor Aionk and Bert Pilcher were made comfortable and brought into Feilding by a car, arriving at Dr. Walmond’s after 5 a.m. Dr. Phillips was called about the same hour and went out to attend to Miss Tylie, who was then being brought to Feilding. All the patients were sent on to the hospital at Palmerston North. Inquiries last evening revealed that they were progressing as well as could be expected in the circumstances. The injuries are fortunately not considered very serious.