Shocking Motor Tragedy

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 14, 18 January 1937, Page 7

Shocking Motor Tragedy

Three Men Killed BABY OAR BECOMES BLAZING INFERNO NO EYE-WITNESSES TO ACCIDENT Per Preoß Association. TAUMARUNUI, Last Night. A terrible tragedy resulting in the loss of three lives occurred about 9.30 on Saturday night on the main highway four miles north of Owhango, which is 14 miles south of Taumarunui. A Morris Minor, a two-door sedan car owned and driven by Roy Bishop, was returning from Taumarunui to Owhango. After rounding a bend the car apparently swerved to the wrong side of the road, struck a low bank, ran along it some 20 or 30 yards and capsized with the wheels in the air about 20 feet down the slope from the road where it burst into flames. There were no eye-witnesses to the accident, but two oars following behind arrived on the scene apparently ten minutes after the accident and found the car a blazing inferno. The heat was so intense that they could do nothing and went to a nearby farm for assistance. Returning with the farmer they saw an arm protruding from the window of the car which was still enveloped in flames and was unapproachable. The police at Taumarunui were notified and Sergeant Clist and Constables MacLennan and Bruce arrived on the scene at 10.20. The car was still burning but with titree and water from a nearby farm they subdued the flames to enable investigations at close quarters. Then they found charred the unrecognisable remains of three men who were identified on Sunday afternoon by three watches found at the scene of the accident as follows: Roy Victor Bishop, of Owhango, aged 34, single, employed as a roadman by the Kaitieke CountyCouncil, driver and owner of the car. Gerald Flynn, farmer, of Owhango, aged 51, single a returned soldier. Charles William Farrell, farmer, Owhango, aged 46, married, a returned soldier with six children. The reason why the car swerved to the wrong side and its capsize is unknown. According to the drivers of the cars following behind no othex- cars passed them either coming to or going from Taumarunui. The car itself is a total wreck, being burnt from end to end.

Five People Injured Per Press Association* WHAKATANE, Jan. 16. A lorry driven by Alan Mclsaacs, who was accompanied by C. Moore and Arthur .Stott, collided in Valley road this morning with a car occupied by Messrs, Marsh and Tanner, employees of the Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. Tanner’s head was driven through tho windscreen and his head and throat were severely cut. Stott received face abrasions and Moore an injury to the hand. A lorry driven by R. Wardlaw, of Waimana, when passing another lorry laden with cattle on the Railway road, Taneatua, skidded off the road last night and somersaulted over a 15 foot bank.

Henry Kelly, a passenger in the cab, sustained a fractured skud. He was taken to tho Whakatane Hospital in a serious condition.

E. McPeake, who was riding on a load of concrete pipes at the back of the lorry, had some ribs fractured and was considerably bruised.