MOTOR ACCIDENT

Nelson Evening Mail, 21 May 1917, Page 6

MOTOR ACCIDENT

ANOTHER MARVELLOUS ESCAPE ON PAEKARIKI HILL. CAR BACKS OVER A PRECIPICE. [UmiaD Pbbss Associatwk.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A serious motor accident occurred yesterday on Paekakariki Hill at the same spot where a car dropped 300 feet a week ago, the vehicle and occupants escaping marvellously. Yesterday's accident occurred in the same way. A party from Hawera, comprising Mr and Mr 6 Cleaver and infant, and Mrs Barkla and infant, were motoring to Wellington, and on reaching a steep pinch, changed to the lower gear, and then while changing to the second gear, slipped into neutral, and before the brakes could be applied the car ran back over the side of the road, where there is a drop of 80 feet. The car turned over three times as it fell. Mrs Cleaver managed to jump clear with her child before the car dropped over the cliff, but the other occupants fell with the vehicle. Mrs Barkla and child fell out at the first overturn, but Cleaver went right down. He and the Barkla child were cut about their heads, and Mrs Barkla was injured in the back. The marvel is how they all escaped death. Travellers coming along shortly afterwards brought the injured people into Wellington for medical treatment.