FALL OVER CLIFF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21377, 29 December 1932, Page 6

FALL OVER CLIFF

ORDEAL OF MOTORISTS DROP OF 80 FEET TO RIVER WOMAN BADLY INJURED AMAZING ESCAPE FROM DEATH [BY telegraph—OWN correspondent] NEW PLYMOUTH, Wednesday A party of New Plymouth motorists had a miraculous escape from death yesterday morning, when their car capsized over the edge of the road in the Awakino Valley and hurtlell down a sheer precipice 80ft. high to the bed of the Awakino River. The car was extensively damaged, but with one exception the six occupants escaped with slight injuries. The car was driven by Mr. Charles Harvey, foreman of the New Plymouth tramways, and he was accompanied by his wife and four children. Leaving New Plymouth at 5 a.m. for Rotorua, they made good progress until about 20 miles north of Uruti, where Mr. Harvey found that the accelerator of his large touring car was becoming very stiff and difficult to manipulate. He decided to use the hand-throttle more often, and continued through the Awakino Valley using the accelerator and hand-throttle in turn. In negotiating the worst bend in the valley, about a mile from the northern end, disaster overtook the party in rounding the corner. Mr. Harvey took his foot off the accelerator, but forgot momentarily that the hand-throttle was switched on. The result was that the car swung round the corner at a higher speed than he intended and moved toward the edge of the road. Terrifying Somersaults In a moment both the outer wheels were over the edge, and to the horror of the occupants the car began to topple slowly over, the edge of the road ha.ving given way under the weight of the car. Then followed four distinct and teixifying somersaults as the car hurtled down the precipice, the occupants being thrown pell-mell about in the car as it toppled down in ever-quickening turns. When the car finally crashed on its hood in the rocky bed of the river, two girls, Joan, aged 11, and Jean, aged 15, were thrown clear, while Mr. Harvey and his wife and daughter, Joyce, aged 13, and his son, Francis, aged 8, were lying,in the car. All picked themselves up except Mrs. Harvey, whose injuries were the most serious. Help was soon forthcoming. Mr. Harvey had been followed by two friends in cars, Mr. H. Skelton and Mr. J. Moles. The former did not 5 see the accident and he passed the spot before being recalled., Mr. Moles, however, saw the car hurtle down the cliff and soon brought aid. Disastrous End tor Holiday After a quarter of an hour's strenuous work, Mrs. Harvey, who was suffering from* severe injuries to the arm and shoulder, was brought to the top of the cliff, where she was attended by the Mokau district nurse, and was taken to the New Plymouth Hospital. The. extent of her injuries will not be known until an X-ray examination has been made, but her condition is reported to be satisfactory. Mr. Harvey is. confined to his home with a strained back and painful abrasions to the arms and back. The injuries to the children were fortunately slight, Joyce Harvey escaping entirely, Jean receiving bruises to the legs and face, Joan a severe black eye and abrasions to the hip and leg, and Francis abrasions to-the head and back and a scalp wound. Although Mr. Harvey is a loser through the accident, the car not being insured, ho agrees that his family's escape from death was miraculous. When the-car toppled all thought their last hour had come. It was a disastrous conclusion to a. holiday the whole family had been looking forward to for a long time. VEHICLES LEAVE ROAD TWO PERSONS INJURED Accidents near pahiatua [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] PAHIATUA. Wednesday In a motor accident near Pahiatua, the. Rev. K. W. Warren, newly inducted minister of the Presbyterian Church, received -abrasions and shock and was taken to hospital. Ho was passing a lorry when his car went over a bank. In another accident, Mr. W. Look, of the Wellington Harbour Board staff, and his wife and child who were driying toward Pahiatua, went over a bank. Mr. Look received injuries to one hand and was taken to hospital. The others escaped unhurt. . ON BRINK OF PRECIPICE CAR STOPPED JUST IN TIME [BY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT] WHANGAREI, Wednesday An exciting motoring accident was experienced on Christmas Day by Mr. Arthur Jagger, of Matamata, who was motoring to Tauritura to visit his relatives. When descending a fairly steep hill he met another car at a difficult point on the road. In order to pass Mr. Jagger pulled to one side. He went too far over on the greasy unmetalled road, and the car toppled over and came to rest temporarily against a fence, which then gave way. The car somersaulted, but was held up for the second time by tea-tree. There is a deep gully at this point on the road. Had the car not been held up it would have fallen approximately another 50ft. Mr. Jagger was accompanied by his son, aged 11 years, and a friend. All three escaped with shock. The car was only slightly damaged. CAPSIZE OF MOTOR-OAR. PASSENGERS NOT INJURED [BY TELEGRAPH—-OWN CORRESPONDENT] OPOTIKI, Wednesday While travelling along the main road to Opotiki last night a five-seater motorcar, owned and driven by Mr. Hartley, a baker, of Opotiki, skidded badly and capsized near Nukuhou. The passengers escaped with shock, but the car was ex- | tensively damaged. • , -