IN A BLAZING CAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21136, 19 March 1932, Page 2 (Supplement)

IN A BLAZING CAR.

VAIN FIGHT TO SAVE GIRL.

EARLY MORNING TRAGEDY.

SAD END TO NEW YEAR DANCE.

A desperate struggle to liberate a girl from a blazing motor-car was described at an' inquest at Westminster recently on Angela Clementine Scott, aged 21, daughter of the Rev. C. V. R. Scott, vicar of Leavcsden, Hertfordshire, ~ who died as the result of injuries received in a, burning motor-car. It was stated that Miss Scott went with two friends, Miss Jeffries and Miss Macnamara, to tho Berkeley Hotel, in London, on January 1. Just before 4 a.m. sho was driving in Kensington Road with Mr. M. G. C. Warmington, tho 21-yaar-old son of Sir Denham Warmington, when the car skidded, crashed into a lamp-post in the middle of the road, overturned, and caught fire. Frederick William Reynolds, a newspaper worker, said that he saw the crash and accelerated his van, but before he could get to the car it had burst into flames. " I rushed over and tried to open the door, but I could not do so," he said. " I snatched off my cap and smashed the window. A man in the car jumped out and kept saying, ' The girl, the girl!' Smashing the Top of the Car. " The car was lying on its off-side. I ran round to try to break .in the back of the car, but it was too strong for me, so I smashed the top. " As I broke it open the legs of the girl dropped out. I grabbed them and they seemed to skin in my hands. Two men came to my assistance and together we pulled the girl out. Her clothing was alight and her face was bleeding." Mr. Reynolds said the car was going at 25 to 30 miles an hour. He thought there was a front wheel skid. Mr. Oddie, the coroner: You behaved extraordinarily well.' Mr. Warmington had come from his bed in hospital to give evidence was examined by his counsel who asked: Is your mind a complete blank as to everything that happened in tho collision ? Witness: Yes, I remember the fire and opening the side door and trying to get tho girl out. _ s Mr. Warmington said ho and two brother officers, Mr. Jeffries and . Mr. Napier* had arranged t6 go to a hunt ball at Gloucester, but the engagement was cancelled. They decided to go to London, and Mr. Jeffries telephoned to his sister in Hertfordshire to come to a dance and bring Miss Scott and another girl. The Night's Programme. After dinner at the Criterion, said witness, they went to the Berkeley Hotel, whore at 10.30 they met the girls. They danced together and remained for* the cabaret. Afterwards the six of them went to a restaurant, where they danced until after 2 a.m. They they went to tho " Ace of Spades " on the Great, West Road for eggs and bacon and coffee. After the meal they took Miss' Macnamara to a friend's house. Ho took Miss Scott in his car and the other four preceded them in another car as he did not know the road. After they had dropped Miss Macnamara they were continuing their journey, as the other girls had to go homo. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death, and warmly commended the bravery of Mr. Reynolds and the two other men who helped him to extricate Miss Scott.