MOTORING TRAGEDY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20113, 26 November 1928, Page 8

MOTORING TRAGEDY.

CAR GOES OVER BANK.

THREE OCCUPANTS KILLED.

OTHERS SUSTAIN INJURY.

MANAIA HILL ACCIDENT.

A DROP OF SIXTY FEET.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] COROMANDEL, Sunday. Three people were killed in a motor accident on the Manaia Ilill, near Coroinandel, this afternoon when a car, driven by Mr. William Wilson, and containing six people, capsized' Over a 60ft. bank. Tho details are:— Killed. Mr. Wilson, senior, father of the driver. Mrs. Wilson, wife of Mr. W. Wilson. Jessie Wilson, aged two yjars, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. ,W. Wilson. Injured. Mr. W. Wilson, injuries to shoulder and shock. Mr. B. S. Carroll, fracture of several ribs and bruises. Margaret Wilson, aged six years, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. Wilson, slight injuries.

The party was returning to Thames in Mr. Wilson's car from a visit to Mr. Frank Shepherd, tho mine manager of the Hauraki Gold Mining Company, of Coromandel. Mr. Wilson, senior, and Mrs. W. Wilson were killed almost instantaneously, while Jessie Wilson died about an hour later at the Coromandel Hospital, a few minutes after admission.

The accident occurred at about four o'clock, when the car was at the top of the Manaia Hill, where the road is extremely rough and dangerous, with banks and steep drops on either side. Mr. Wilson thought lie heard another car approaching and pulled into the bank, away from the edge. The wheels became lodged in the water-table and it was necessary to put ou speed to get the motor out.

The car left the wafer-table with a jump and went suddenly over the side of the road, rolling a considerable distance down into a stock accommodation paddock below the road. The car, a new limousine which Mr. Wilson had recently purchased, was damaged beyond repair.

Mr. Wilson is the foreman at the Thames works of Messrs. A. and G. Price, Limited, where he has been employed for a long period. His father was u resident of Dcvonport and was spending a holiday with his son. Mrs. Wilson Mas the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Clark, a well-known Thames family.

Mr. Carroll is the inspecting locomotive engineer to the Railway Department iu connection with the construction of railway engines for the department at Thames by Messrs. Price, Limited. His wife resides in Auckland. A motor-truck was sent out from Thames to bring back the bodies of those killed.