LORRY OVER A BANK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18942, 13 February 1925, Page 8

LORRY OVER A BANK.

DROP OF FORTY FEET. "NOSE DIVES" INTO MUD. DRIVER'S FORTUNATE ESCAPE. [BS TELEGRAPH, —-OWN C<*IBESPONDENT.] NEW. PLYMOUTH. Thursday. A sensational drop of 40ft>. by a motorlorry over a bank into a gorge took place at Omoana, near Eltham. Mr. Young, a driver for Mr. L. Bunn, of Moeroa, who is the contractor for the metalling at Omoana, intended to turn the lorry round. He got out to see if all was clear, and then the lorry began to move. Mr. Young jumped into the cab and applied the brakes. They did not act, and the lorry dashed over the bank into the gorge. For 20ft. it was a sheer drop, but the lorry kept upright. It landed on a steep bank, down which it careered for 20ft: Provident&lly the lorry did not capsize. When it reached a swamp at the bottom of the bank it "nose-dived" into the mud, Mr. Young being thrown out. The workmen on the road rushed to the bank and called out, but received no answer. They descended into the gorge and found Mr. Young lying unconscious beside the lorry suffering from concussion. He was carried back to the road and a doctor was summoned from Eltham. Mr. Young had a marvellous escape. He has recovered from the concussion, but is badly bruised and shaken. The scene of the accident is considered dangerous.