TRUCK OVERBOARD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22615, 31 December 1936, Page 8

TRUCK OVERBOARD

HARBOUR ACCIDENT LOST FROM FERRY BOAT DRIVER'S LEAP TO SAFETY Displaced by the roll of the vessel in heavy seas, a large motor-truck, laden high with coal and coke, crashed through the bulwarks of the vehicular ferry Goshawk yesterday morning and sank in the middle of the harbour. The driver, Mr. R. Owsley, sensing danger in the preliminary lurch of the truck, scrambled from his seat and jumped to the deck, just in time to escape being thrown into the water with the heavy vehicle. The . mishap occur red about nine o'clock in the morning when the strong north-easterly wind and tide were responsible for exceedingly rough conditions on the harbour. The truck was owned by W. Lovett, carrier and coal merchant, of Ponsonby, and was fully laden for delivery 011 the North Shore. It was parked at the side of the ferry for the trip across the harbour. Struck by Heavy Wave

When the Goshawk had passed the eastern breakwater she commenced to roll to the heavy seas which were sweeping up tRo harbour. Suddenly a wave heavier than usual struck the ferry and the truck gave an ominous lurch. Mr. Owsley immediately jumped to safety, not a moment too soon. Ihere was a crashing sound as the truck smashed its way through the bulwarks and toppled overboard into the harbour. None of the other vehicles on the ferry was displaced and the Goshawk completed her journey to Devonport in safety. „ , , Damage to Bulwarks

Subsequently about 20ft. of bulwarks had to be replaced.

As far as could be gathered yesterday, no arrangements have yet been made for salvaging the truck. For this task the services of a diver would he required and a floating crane might have to he used.

Mr. W. J. Lovett, the principal of the firm owning the truck, was absent from Auckland yesterday and officials of the Devonport Ferry Company were very reticent.