MOTOR TRAGEDY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22145, 26 June 1935, Page 10

MOTOR TRAGEDY

TWO MEN KILLED TRAPPED UNDER WATER CRASH THROUGH BRIDGE SOUTHLAND FATALITY CAR SUBMERGED IN RIVER [BY TELKORAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION*] INVERCARGILL, Tuesday Two coal company officials were killed when the car in which they were travelling crashed over a bridge at Fairfax, five miles from Otautau, into the Aparima Piver last night. The victims were:— Mr. Thomas A. Nicholson, aged 52, manager of the Linton Coal Company. Mr. Alan Timpany, aged 38, secretary of the company. The two men left Invercargill earlv yesterday morning to visit the company's mine at Ohai, travelling in Mr. Timpany's car, a now eight-cylinder model. After spending the day at Ohai they left on the return journey. They dined at Otautau in the evening: and departed on the final stage of the journey to Invercargill about eight o'clock. Driving conditions were then bad on account of the drizzling rain. Discovery ol Tragedy

The tragedy was discovered about four o'clock this morning when three men who were proceeding from Invercargill to Nightcaps discovered that a large piece of the side of the bridge had been torn away and a car was lying on its side in the river in about eight feet of water. Both the occupants had been trapped. The three men immediately aroused a storekeeper who, after summoning a doctor and a constable, proceeded to the scene. A ladder was procured and Mr. Timpany's body was recovered. He had apparently been pinned behind the driving wheel. About 15 residents having been called, the task of righting the car was commenced, but it was not until almost 7.30 that Mr. Nicholson's body was recovered, after the hood of the car had been smashed in. The bodies were conveyed to Invercargill. The bridge where the fatality occurred is only a short distance down the road from the Fairfax Hotel, and the approach is a straight one. The bridge, about 250 yards long, is a wooden oneway structure with two tracks of longitudinal planking 3ft. wide over the cross planking. A protecting rail ran the full length of the bridge.

Driver Pinned in Seat When about 100 ft. from the Invercargill side of the bridge the front wheels of the car evidently slipped off the greasy longitudinal planks and crashed through the right-hand protecting rail into the river, which at this part is Bft. deep. After recent snow the river was carrying more water than usual. A gravel bank divides the river into two streams at the bridge and had the accident happened some feet earlier the car would have landed on solid ground. Had it been just a few feet later the water would have been too shallow to cause such a tragedy. The protecting fence with its iron uprights was torn away for a distance of 40ft. and a piece of the wooden rail about 10ft. long had pierced the bonnet of the car, passed through the windscreen and pinioned the driver in his seat. Mr. Nicholson's body was found in the rear seat when the car was recovered. The time of the accident can be definitely stated at 9.10 p.m., for the watches of both men had stopped at that hour. Careers of the Victims Mr; Nicholson, who was a native of Dunedin, spent many years in the service of Sargood, Son and Ewen, Limited. For 15 years he was country representative for that firm. Several years ago he became manager of the Linton Coal Company, of which he was also a director. He was keenly interested in sport, and was a member of the Waihopai Bowling Club and the Queen's Park Golf Club. He is survived by his wife, one daughter, Miss Nancy Nicholson, now on her way to England, and one son, Mr. John Nicholson, a medical student at Otago University. Mr. Timpanv was a son of the late Mr. William Timpanv. He was educated at the Southland Boys' High School and joined the staff of the Bank of New Zealand on completing his education. Later he left the service of the bank to join his father in the coal business. He was one of the original members of the Linton Coal Company. He was stationed for a time in Timaru, returning to Invercargill as secretary. He was a keen bowler and was secretary of the Georgetown Club. Mr. Timpanv married a daughter of the late Mr. Robert Jenkins, of Timaru. His wife and two small children survive him.