MOTOR FATALITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21993, 27 December 1934, Page 10

MOTOR FATALITY

SERVICE-CAR DOWN BANK TV/O KILLED, FOUR INJURED SKID IN LOOSE METAL, PAINFUL WALK FOR HELP [bx telegraph—OWN correspondent] NELSON, Wedneuday Two people were killed and four injured when a service-car, owned by Spiers Motors, left the road on Hope Saddle and turned over four or five times, while returning from Nelson to Murchison at about three o'clock on Christmas morning. One of the injured, Mr. W. Lynch, of Murchison, crawled back to the road, and, in spito of his sufferings, walked to Glenhope, about six or seven miles away, to telephone for help.

The victims are:— Dead Jlilss Phyllis Merle Kite, aged 19, of Lake Rotoroa. She suffered a fractured skull and was dead before being admitted to hospital. Mr. George McKay, of Murchison. He received spinal injuries and died in the Nelson Hospital last evening. , Injured Mr. Ernest Stewart, of Murchison, fractured collarbone. Mr. Leslie Stewart, of Murchison, bruises and shock. Mr. Gordon Baker, of Howard, concussion. Occupants Thrown Out The -fourth of the injured people, Mr. Lynch, was not admitted to hospital. The others are progressing satisfactorily, and none is in a serious condition. The service-ear, a large open model driven by Mr. L. Stewart, left Nelson, where the passengers had been doing their Christmas shopping, at about 1 a.m. While on Hope Saddle the car skidded in loose metal on a sharp bend, and left the road. It plunged down a bank, turning over and over, and the six occupants were thrown out before it came to rest upside down at the bottom of a gully. Crawled Back to Road Although he was injured, Mr. Lynch decided to seek assistance. Fortunately he knows the district well, and after crawling back to the road he walked to Glenhope, where he knew the nearest telephone to be. Dr. Closs was summoned, as well as the police and an ambulance, and the other five occupants of the car were taken to the Nelson Hospital. Miss Kite, a cook employed at the boarding house at Lake Rotoroa, died before the hospital was reached. Her relatives live at Tapawera, near Motueka.

Mr. McKay, whose death occurred in the evening, was employed on a dredge at Murchison. He had relatives at Tapanui, Otago. An inquest concerning the two deaths was opened before Mr. T. E. Maunsell, S.M., coroner. The inquiry was adjourned after evidence of identification had been given.