DROWNED IN CAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22392, 13 April 1936, Page 9

DROWNED IN CAR

PLUNGE INTO EITEE FOUR VICTIMS OF TRAGEDY SECOND AUSTRALIAN CASE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received April 12, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, April 12 Details have reached Sydney of another motor-car tragedy similar to that which occurred at Davistown on March 29, when two sedan cars ran off the end of a jetty and plunged into the sea, causing the deaths by drowning of six people. This time-the Manning River, near Taree, New South Wales, 83 miles north-east of Newcastle, was the scene of the tragedy. During the night the driver of a large sedan car failed to observe that the vehicular punt was on the opposite side of the river and the car plunged into the water. The four occupants of the car were unable to escape and were drowned.

The victims were: Mr. James Jackson, aged 58, an employee of the Bcrrigan Shire Council, Southern New South Wales; his wife, aged 62; his son, Mr. William Jackson, aged 32; and Mrs. Norah Clements, aged 62. When rescuers arrived on the scene three of the bodies were huddled in the back seat of the car, three windows of which were closed. Mr. William Jackson's body was not recovered. It is known that the latter was driving with his window open, and apparently he managed to extricate himself, as the local inhabitants heard the car's impact with the water followed by cries of distress. Immediate attempts to haul the car to the surface were without avail, and several hours elapsed during which the headlights continued to function 20 feet under water. Finally the car was brought ashore with the aid of a portable car-crane. The ill-fated party was touring the north coast and had intended paying; a visit to Mrs. Clements' daughter-in-law at Taree. The car descended a steep hill at Tinonie, where the Manning River is crossed by means of a small vehicular punt. Mr. Jackson apparently failed to notice the warning sign indicating that the punt was on the opposite side, and drove through the frail barrier into the river.