TWO KILLED

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 54, Issue 32522, 10 January 1945, Page 7

TWO KILLED

TAXI GOES OVER BANK SIX PERSONS IN THE CAR VEHICLE PARTLY SUBMERGED Two persons, an elderly Maori and his wife, were killed in an accident six or seven miles on the Thames side of Coromandel when a taxi in which six residents of Ahimia were travelling went over a 32ft. bank into a stream on Christmas Day. The victims were:— DEAD Mr Kauwhata Takerei, aged 67. Mrs Miriama Takerei, his wife, aged 65. INJURED Dave Brown, a returned serviceman, aged about 3'o, cuts and abrasions; in Coromandel Hospital. Trevor Renata, aged 14; in Coromandel Hospital. Mr lan Anderson, taxi driver, shock and bruises. The other occupant, Miriama Thomas, aged four, escaped' uninjured. Mr Takerei was killed; outright and his wife died in hospital next morning.

The taxi was travelling to Mercury Bay and' met another car driven by Mr Hector Henderson, of Taupo, who was on holiday and going to Hamilton from Mercury Bay. via Coromandel. Mr Henderson stopped on an easy grade to let the taxi pass and it was almost past when it went over the bank. '

The taxi fell into a river-bed' on its side, among some boulders, part of the vehicle (being submerged. Mr Anderson was the (first to get out, and rescued the two children, with the assistance of Mr Henderson. Then Mrs Takerei was brought out and it was found Mr Takerei was dead. Mr Brown managed to get out without assistance, although he later had to go to hospital.

An inquest into the death of Mr Takerei was opened at Coromandel and ( adjourned sine die.