MOTORING ACCIDENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19858, 31 January 1928, Page 10

MOTORING ACCIDENTS.

CAR FALLS OVER BANK. COLLAPSE OF THE ROADWAY. WOMAN SEVERELY INJURED. A fivc-seator motor-car, owned and driven by Mr. W. W. Graham, of Mount Eden, fell over a bank on the main road between Huntly and Taupiri shortly after mid-day yesterday. The accident occurred at a very dangerous spot in the Huntly Gorge, where many accidents haw. recently taken place. When Mr. Graham was attempting to pass a car which had stopped the outside edge of the bank collapsed and Mr. Graham's' car was hurled down a bank, turning a double-somersault. There were five persons in the car. Mrs. Graham, who had in her arms her six-months-old baby, succeeded in shielding the infant from serious injury, but Mrs. Graham received sovcre scalp wounds, necessitating her admission to the Huntly Hospital, where the baby was also admitted with abrasions to the faco. Mr. Graham received an injury to his arm, but managed, with the help of the other occupants, to remove the car to the roadway. Although Mrs. Graham was severely injured, her condition is not regarded as serious. , A GIRL KNOCKED DOWN. RUNS OUT ON TO ROAD. CONDITION REPORTED CRITICAL. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORItESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH. Monday. A 10-year-old girl, Marjorio Newton, who lives in Wilson's Road, was knocked down on Saturday evening by a motorcar driven by Mrs. Jessie MeDougall, of Dudley Street, Richmond. The child is now in the Christchurch Hospital in a critical condition, suffering from internal injuries, abrasions and shock. Apparently the girl rushed out on to the road, hesitated and then ran on again, making it impossible for the driver to avoid hitting her, although she swerved the car in an effort to do so. Tho girl was reported to be slightly improved to-day, although still in a serious condition. LORRY OVER A CLIFF. THE TE WHAITJ ACCIDENT. ANOTHER DEATH OCCURS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] ROTORUA, Mondzy. At the inquest into the death of two victims of the tragic motor accident when a motor-lorry went over the cliff at To Whaiti last week, .H. MacPherson, the driver, stated that lie lrft the pa at about 2.30 a.m. on the return journey to Ruatahuna with it party of Maoris. When about 200 yards from the pa, at a sharp bond, he thought the accelerator jammed when he was changing gear. The ground was crumbling, and lie felt it giving way. He jammed on his brakes, but the lorry toppled over and fell about 50ft. into the stream bciow. A motor expert said he had examined the truck since, and found that the brakes were on and everything was in order. The inquest was adjourned. Another death is reported from the hospital as the result of the accident. An old Maori suffering from spinal injuries has died, Ho was from Ruatahuna. Others it. a serious condition are still in tho hospital. DEATH OF PASSENGER. DISCLOSURE AT INQUEST. COMMENT BY CORONER. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. An inquest into the circumstances of the death of James Samuel David Porter, aged 33, who died at the Christchurch Hospital alter having been injured in an accident on the Yaldhurst Road, was held to-day before Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., coroner. It was stated in evidence that deceased and another man, named Brown, were returning to Christchurch from Homebush in a motor-lorry, driven by James Joseph Small. They had called at the Sheffield and Darfield Hotels, and had two or three drinks-. Small stated that he was confused by tho lights of another car and, swerving, got into some loose shingle. Tho lorry hit a post and thon went into a ditch. The medical evidence was to the effect that Porter died from shock and injuries. Tho coroner, in giving his verdic't, said tho drink that Brown and the driver, Small, had taken, had disturbed their mental equilibrium. Ho was compelled to state that in the circumstances, and had it not boen for that fact, tho accident would have been avoided. A verdict was returned in accordance with tho medical testimony. TWO INJURED CYCLISTS. NO CHANGE IN CONDITION. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. J GISBORNE, Monday. There is no change in the. condition of either Montagu Clarksou or John Graham, the two young men who were admitted to the Cook Hospital early on Saturday morning, as the result of a moto;- accident. at Ormond. ' Clarksou, who is believed to be suffering from concussion, is still under observation, and it is not known whether an operation will be necessary.