FATAL TRIAL RUN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22345, 17 February 1936, Page 8

FATAL TRIAL RUN

BIRTHDAY GIFT GAR DEATH OF YOUNG MAN PLUNGE DOWN STEEP BANK THREE COMPANIONS INJURED A young man was killed and three others were injured, one seriously, when a new motor-car, a birthday present received by the driver only a few hours before, crashed 150 ft. down a steep bank, after a collision on the Waiwera-Puhoi road on Saturday afternoon. The victims of the accident were:— Killed Mr. Arthur Trevor Day, aged 22, single, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Day, of Matakana. Injured Mr. J. R. Rawlings, aged 22, single, of 62 Albert Road, Devonport, fractured leg; not serious. Ronald Cogan, aged 17, of 46 Mc-seley Avenue, Devonport, internal injuries; serious. Ross Jones, aged 18, of Devonport, slight facial and ankle injuries and shock. The car, a light sedan, had been given to Mr. Rawlings by his mother. He had just taken possession of it, and with three friends, was going for a trial run. At about four o'clock in the afternoon the car was proceeding north, three-quarters of a mile past Waiwera, when it touched the righthand side of another car, driven by Mr. R. Sadler, of Maungaturoto, which was travelling in the opposite direction. Oar Out of Control Mr. Rawlings' car became out of control and left the road, somersault* ing down the hill at the side. It came to rest on its right side about 150 ft. below the road. Mr. Day and Mr. Rawlings were found lying together about 50ft. from the road, and Cogan beside the car. Jonesy. was able to climb back to the road, but was too dazed to remember how far he had accompanied the car on its wild career. Dr. (?. H. Osborne, of Warkworth, was summoned, and arrived on the scene within a short period. Mr. Rawlings and Cogan were later taken, to the Auckland Hospital by a St. John ambulance. After treatment for shock and minor injuries, Jones was able to proceed to relatives at Matakana. Promising Rugby Player The car was extensively damaged, and after being righted, was secured, to prevent its further descent. The body of Mr. Day was removed to Warkworth, where an inquest was opened yesterday morning before Mr. A. J. S. Warin, district coroner. II was adjourned after evidence of identification had been taken. Deceased was a well-known ' and highly respected young man in the Rodney district, and was regarded as a very promising Rugby footballer. He had been a, member of the Matakana first fifteen practically since leaving school. TOURING CAR CAPSIZES ONE KILLED, THREE INJURED ACCIDENT AT TE AWAMUIU [by TELEGRAPH—OWN" correspondent] TE AWAMUTU, Saturday One man was killed and three others were admitted to the Waikato Hospital as the result of the capsize of the motor-car in which they were travelling on the Te Awamutu-Kihi-kihi main highway shortly after six o'clock this evening. Details are:— Killed James Peacock, aged about 55, married, of 14 East Street, Newton. Auckland. Extensive head and in* ternal injuries. Injured Claude Hunt, aged 41, married, Takanini, carpenter, probable fratv ture of ribs. William Christie, aged 40, single, of the Public Works Department camp, Tokanui, near Te Avramutu, a carpenter. Probable fracture of an arm. Arthur Edward Kingsford, aged 26, single, of Otahuhu, labourer. Probable fracture of ribs. The accident occurred where the bitumen surfacing ends at the Te mutu borough boundary. While avoiding a motor-lorry proceeding in the opposite direction, an old model touring car bound for Kihikihi, owned by Mr. William B. Lindsay and driven by Kingsford, left the road, somersaulted and came to rest on its side. It had as passengers Hunt, Christie, Peacock and two labourers, Ernest Neale, aged 27, and Edward Connoll, aged 21, both of whom escaped with abrasions. All the men were employed on construction work at the Tokanui Mental Hospital, where a number of new villas are being erected. Two doctors were on the scene shortly after the accident and rendered first-aid to the injured, who were removed to the hospital in a St. John ambulance. It is believed that Peacock was killed instantaneously, his ' u * juries being of a terrible nature. Tbe car was extensively damaged, The owner of the vehicle, Mr. L' say, did not make the trip, as he wanted to remain in To Awamutu.