Two Killed; Five Injured When Thrown From Truck At Awanui

Northern Advocate, 30 March 1937, Page 5

Two Killed; Five Injured When Thrown From Truck At Awanui

[Special to t: Northern Advocate."i KAITAIA, This Day. 6.30 last evening two Maoris were killed and five other Maoris were injured when| they fell from a motor truck in which they were riding between Waipapakauri and Awanui. Those killed were:— William Phillips, aged 21 years', son of Mr and Mrs Henry Phillips, of Parapara. Hannah Wright, aged 13, daughter of Mr and Mrs Barney Wright, also of Parapara. The injured were:— Mary Phillips, aged 6 years, facial injuries and abrasions. Julia Phillips, aged 10 years, injuries to legs. Liza Phillips, aged 19 years, facial injuries, abrasions to body and injuries to legs. - Mrs Lizzie Phillips, aged about 45 years, mother of the above, facial injuries and shock. * Ted Johnson, aged 25 years, injuries to head, concussion, fracture of left thumb and shock. His condition is fairly serious, but the others arQ comparatively of a minor nature. ' • * ..j; • All are natives and reside at Parapara. ' . ■ V. . ■ ‘ ■ - * ' i" >

Unknown to Driver, The vehicle in which the natives were riding was a heavy motor lorry r used chiefly for metal cartage, and jvas driven by the owner, Mr Harry Christensen, of Kaiaka. • Just before leaving Waipapakauri after the sports yesterday, two young ladies who had cycled to the sports, asked Mr Christensen for a lift back, and this was granted, the cycles being put into the body* of the truck. The young ladies rode in the cab with Mr Christensen and Mr Rogers, an employee of Mr Christensen. 1 The Phillips family also asked for a lift to Awanui, and they were told that they could get into the body of the truck but unknown to Christensen, 12 natives clambered into the truck before Ait left Waipapakauri. These people either stood up in the lorry or sat on the low sides of the body.

Thrown Off Truck.

When turning the corner of the road at Waiononii all those who were sitting on the left side of the truck were thrown off. They were clinging to each other, and the back wheels of the truck passed over the head of \ Hannah Wright, who was killed instantly, and the body of William Phillips, who died within a few moments While he was being move;d to the side of the road. ' The others were all thrown clear of 'the vehicle, which was pulled up within a few yards, the cries of the natives attracting the attention of the driver. INQUEST OPENS. Constable F. Taylor and Dr. .T. Pule were quickly on .the scene of the accident, and the injured persons were removed to the Kaitaia Hospital. Before this had been carried out and the bodies of the two who had been killed removed, there were many motor cars, returning from the Waipapakauri sports, held up, as the road iwas blocked by the bodies of the killed and the injured. ■ An inquest was opened at Kaitaia before Mr L. A. Mclntosh, the Coroner, this morning, and after evidence of identification had been given by Henare Piripi, father of one of the deceased, the inquiry was adjourned (Sine die.

t Sergeant Claasen intimated that he would probably be ready to proceed on April 9.