MOTOR FATALITY.
ACCIDENT TO SERVICE CAR
MAORI'S RIDE ON MUDGUARD
TAURANGA, Dec. 26.
The following account of the motoring accident near Rotorua, wherein a Maori was killed and other people injured, is supplied by the owners of the car:
' The vehicle, which was driven by Mrs Don Cattanach, was running to Rotorua to schedule time, and when 15 miles from Rotorua was signalled by some Maoris, two men and a woman. The driver gave permission to one of {file Maoris and lus wife to board the car, but refused permission to the other man, as the car was being taxed to its maximum, capacity. The driver indicated that another car would soon bo approaching, and pleaded with the Maori to wait for it. Valuable schedule time was being lost and the driver commenced to proceed. The Maori, the owners state, jumped on the running board of the car and attempted to secure a seat on the rear mudguard. The car was gaining momentum on second gear and threw the Maori about on his precarious position. The car was now running forward at six miles an hour, high gear not having been touched. The Maori lunged and swerved about on the footboard, and he apparently fell to the ground. Everyone in the car, including the driver, felt this, and Mrs Cattanach, in her endeavour to prevent the car from running over the man, immediately swerved. This caused the vehicle to strike a rut in the road and skid too closely to the edge of tho bank. It all occurred in a matter of split seconds, and the sudden weight of the car on the outer edge of the road caused the bank to crumble away. Everything possible was done to right the car, but it soon became beyond control and somersaulted over the bank.
A Maori, Tore, in the body of the car, was killed outright, and his wife received very serious injuries. It is stated that there is little hope for her recovery. The •other passengers escaped injury. The Maori who clambered on to JLhe running board was thrown clear. The car was not damaged to any great extent.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19251228.2.35
Bibliographic details
Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 24, 28 December 1925, Page 6
Word Count
359MOTOR FATALITY. Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 24, 28 December 1925, Page 6
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