MOTOR COMES TO GRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20218, 1 April 1929, Page 8

MOTOR COMES TO GRIEF.

COLLISION WITH A POST.

YOUNG WOMAN KILLED.

SEVERAL OTHERS INJURED.

AN EARLY MORNING CRASH* [B? TELEGRAPH.— OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHTJRCH, Sunday.' In the early hours of this morning - a motor-car crashed into a telegraph post at the clock tower corner, and the four 1 occupants were thrown out, one young woman being killed. Details are as follows : Killed. Maureen Doris Mitchell, aged 25 years,,of Bristol Street, St. Albans. Injured. Nora Rich, of Fapanui, shaking and bruises. Cecil Penlington, of Christchurch, fractured arm. John Boyd Clark, of Papariui the driver of the car, shaking and bruises.

Miss Mitchell was the daughter of Mr.E. U. Mitchell, of the firm of Mitchell and Aldridge, accountants. The party had been to the Dixieland Cabaret and the car, a three-seater, was being driven by Clark down High Street toward the elbek tower. Itain was falling, the roads were greasy, and visibility was bad. Eye-witnesses state that the driver, on passing the clock tower, endeavoured to turn south into Manchester Street toward the railway station. Tho car was on the train rails and swerved far over to the left. When it appeared likely that the car would strike the rockwork at the south-eastern corner of the intersection of High and Manchester Streets, the driver evidently recovered control and swerved back toward the roadway again. Here the telegraph post was struck with some force and its battered, condition and also "the glass and oil strewn on the road bore evidence of the crash. It is stated that ihe car rebounded off the post, turned round completely twice, and came to a halt facing the direction from which it had come.

Miss Mitchell and Penlington were thrown some distance away, and bystanders rushed to pick them up. One man endeavoured to render first aid to the girl, whose injuries did not appear to be external. She was in a very serious condition, however, and died on the way to the hospital in the ambulance. Penlington was also taken to the hospital, and his condition was reported this afternoon as not serious.

The car struck the post with the left front hub and the running board and'the whole of the left side were torn away. The back spring and left back wheel were also smashed.

Miss Mitchell had been sitting on the left side of the car and received the full force of the smash.

The inquest vras opened this afternoon and adjourned.