MOTOR FALLS 100 FEET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18635, 29 April 1924, Page 6

MOTOR FALLS 100 FEET.

ACCIDENT ON RANGIRIRIS* OCCUPANTS ESCAPE UNHURT. CAR PLUNGES _INTO SWAMP. TWELVE BOGGED ON ROAD. A thrilling experience of the Rangiriri Hills at their worst befel Mr. E. Bedford, of Remuera, whose car plunged over a cliff 100 ft. high. Mr. Bedford was returning from Hamilton on Sunday, and his car was one of a dozen bogged in one short stretch of road. After his car was pulled out by horses, Mr. Bedford was attempting to negotiate the Devil's Elbow v.hen his car, a heavy Daimler, went over the bank and plunged down about 100 ft. until it buried its nose in the swamp. The single passenger jumped clear when the car commenced to slither across the road and Mr. Bedford was able to jump out unhurt when the car progress was checked by a fence. The front axle was broken and the car will have to remain where,,it is until the weather improves. - - Holes in the road, . according to Mr. Bedford, are being filled with earth and they become veritable traps with a little rain. Drivers are • faced with " Hobson's choice." Either they drive in the water table against the bank until the car is bogged, or they go on the outside and risk going over the bank— happened in Mr. Bedford's case. When the mishap occurred his car was travelling slowly, but the back wheel brakes were not sufficient to hold it.

The whole of the Rangiriris, except, the two. mile:; of metal, were had yesterday, hut,. as Mr. Bedford explains, the road improves with a drying wind as fast as it deteriorates under rain. It " should be passable for light cars to-day.