UNUSUAL MISHAP

Hokitika Guardian, 18 June 1938, Page 6

UNUSUAL MISHAP

CAR RUNS OFF WHARF. FALL ON TO BARGE’S DECK. MERCER, June 14. Hurtling over the edge ot the "'hart ; at Mercer and clearing a 10ft. stretch 1 of water, a motor-car containing two voting men nose-dived on to a barge in tho Waikato River about, 1-30 in the turning. The driver ct tho car, Mr S. L. Lew is, | of Fcilding, farm manager, single, had tendons of the left torearm severed, and his companion, Mr W. L. Alenzics, carpenter, single, of Kimbolton, escaped i with a shaking. The two men were returning to their homes after a holiday in the north. At the time of the accident Mr Lewis was driving, while Mr Alonzies was sleeping. Mr Lewis said lie was not aware ot the sharp turn south which the road makes at the wharf at Mercer. The full j moon was in his face, and with cranes and a line of railway trucks there he followed a track between them on to 1 the wharf, not noticing the turn, i The car ran over the railway truck turntable on the wharf and continued I for about two and a-quarter chains m ' all from tho edge of the bitumen on | the Great South Road. The vehicle j struck tho guard rail at the edge of the wharf and careered on until it struck the barge. i The front of the left dumb-ircvi of 1 the car pierced the decking of the barge, while the front of the rignt dumb-iron caught against the corner formed by the sternboard and the decking. The vehicle came to a standtill at an agio of about 80 degrees to the deck, j The steering wheel ws shattered in . the hands of the driver, and the wind, 'screen was broken. Mr Menzies was catapulted into the hood of the cai, together with luggage. I Air Lewis and Air Alonzies scrambled out of the car and made their wav to ' the Mercer Hotel. l>r F. W. Lumsden, of Pukakohe, attended to Air Lewis, ! who was later taken to hospital. ■ The car does not appear to have sutfered extensive damage.