CAR RUNS INTO BRIDGE.

Matamata Record, Volume XVI, Issue 1446, 31 July 1933, Page 5

CAR RUNS INTO BRIDGE.

NEAR MORRINSVILLE.

Motorists’ Fortunate Escape.

A closed car owned and driven by Mr. J. Gilford, of Kurunui road, Motumaoho, ran into the guard rail of the bridge at Avenue road, just outside the borough of Morrinsville, early on Tuesday afternoon, and remained perched perilously half off the bridge until dragged back to the road two hours later.

Mr. Gifford and a young farm worker, who were the only occupants, were uninjured, and scrambled out through the rear door. The windscreen was smashed and the mudguards and radiator dented. As the car was proceeding very slowly down'the steep and S-shaped descent to the bridge a 6-inch section of the wooden rim of the steering wheel broke away, and the car veered to the left and struck the left-hand post of the bridge rail head on. The right-hand wheel was wedged firmly round the post, and this was all that saved the car from dropping 15 feet into the stream. This bridge has been the scene of previous mishaps. More than a year ago a lorry driven by Mr. E. Bold, of Walton, got off the road at the approach to the bridge and came to rest against a tree on the right-hand side of the bridge. Mr. Bold suffered extensive injuries. The Piako County Council has in view the rounding off of the corner on the Morrinsville side ,of the bridge in order to make the approach to the bridge less dangerous.