PLUNGE INTO A RIVER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18887, 9 December 1924, Page 8

PLUNGE INTO A RIVER.

MOTORISTS' NARROW ESCAPE.

AVOIDING A COLLISION.

DESPERATE ALTERNATIVE.

A WOMAN NEARLY DROWNED.

[BY TELEGRAPH. — OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

CHBISTCIIURCH. Monday.

Plunging headlong into the Avon near the New Brighton tram bridge early yesterday morning a five-seater car s.'nk in mid-stream. Its two occupants, one a womau, narrowly . escaped death.

Travelling toward town the car was about to take the rise leading to the bridge when another car travelling at a high speed came from the River Road. With but two courses open to him the driver chose going over the bank into the river as the safer. The alternative would have been to crash into the oncoming car. The river was fairly high at the time, it being, about half tide.

Shooting over the bank the car fell into the river in mid-stream. The driver was the first to gain his freedom. On finding no sign of his companion when he rose to. the ' surface ho promptly dived below and rescued her just in time.

Both fared - badly, the man receiving numerous cuts on the face and body, while the woman was considerably bruised, and suffered greatly from shock.

The other car disappeared, the motorist evidently being quite oblivious of the mishap or careless as to the consequences that might befall those in the river.