Shocking Tragedy At Papakura; 4 Burned To Death In Baby Car

Northern Advocate, 31 January 1939, Page 5

Shocking Tragedy At Papakura; 4 Burned To Death In Baby Car

AUCKLAND, This Day. BOUT 2 O’CLOCK THIS MORNING. A MILE NORTH OF PAPAKURA,

AND 19 MILES FROM AUCKLAND, A SMALL CAR, APPARENTLY PROCEEDING TO AUCKLAND, RAN INTO A DITCH, AND CAPSIZED AND CAUGHT FIRE, Other motorists who arrived found the car blazing too fiercely to render assistance. The number of the car was 5984. .

Four people were incinerated—three men and one woman

The Victims. The victims were; — William Miller, of Weymouth, aged 32, labourer, married, three children. Maurice Warderton, of Manurewa, ( aged 40, labourer, employed by the Manakau Golf Club, single.

Walter Ernest Briggs, aged 34, widowed, employed on a farm at Brookby. '' '' Miss Bessie Wiliams, waitress at the Papakura Hotel, aged-21

The licensee of the Papakura Hotel told a reporter that two of the men named called at the hotel yesterday and asked Miss Williams to go to a dance at Patamahoe, near Pukekohe. He was fold last evening that Miss Williams had gone to the dance. She had been employed at the hotel since Christmas, having come from Waipu.

We Can’t Get Out!

It is surmised the car wa? returning from Patamahoe in the direction of Auckland.

It was seen to plunge off the road on what is known as the Takam’ni Straight by Eric Turner, of Wairanga, driving an approaching car. He and his companions jumped out, and as they were rushing to the upturned car it burst into flames.

They called: “Is there anyone inside.” A man’s voice replied: “Yes, but we can’t gel out!” Mr Turner was accompanied by two men and a woman passenger. They tried to approach the car, but were driven back by the intense heat. They had no fire extinguisher. Realising they were untable to help, •Turner and his companion, Robert Kelly, drove to Papakura police station.

Two constables, with fire extinguishers, rushed to the scene, and half an hour later got the first body out of the burning car. It was 'an hour later before they got the other three out.

They were unable to extinguish the flames and the car was totally destroyed.

Charred Skeletons. The charred skeletons of the occupants were unyecognisabHe. No person's! property could be identified. Three tins of very charred tobacco were found, and also an enamel badge with the inscription obliterated. The police believe two - men were in the front seat and Miss Williams with a man in the back seat. The remains were removed to the Papakura morgue. The correct time the tragedy occurred was about five minutes past one. The police were advised at 15 minutes past one. The first body w'as recovered at 2 o’clock and the other three by three o’clock. A Raging Inferno. . A Hamilton motorist, Mr Bruce Marshall, who was travelling close to the car, in a statement to the police said he heard the screech of brakes, bnd, looking bfadk, saw the car swerve and disappear. Immediate? ly there was a great burst of flame.

He returned, but was unable to approach within ten feet of the burning car.

He saw at least three people. They were motionless. \ -He telephoned for the police and ambulance.

Other parties of motorists reached the scene shortly afterwards.

One, Mr H. J. Hartley, of Auckland, said the car was blazing in the ditch.

“The heat was terrific. I was afraid of our own benzine tank, and also that the benzine tank of car might explode. The chassis was red-hot. J could see the remains of a man near the wheel.”