HAPPY VALLEY FATALITY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10811, 29 January 1921, Page 8

HAPPY VALLEY FATALITY

MOTOR-OAR EXPLOSION. FURTHER DETAILS OF THE DISASTER. The mortar-oar concerned in the fatal accident resulting in the death of Mr Fred Hudse, of Kilbdraie, wan towed m from, Happy Valley to town yesterday. The car, an Oakland five-seater, was found about one and a hiallf miles from Brooklyn, heading for tbiart, suburb. The car suffered very- little damage, it being confined to the petrol tank at the rear of the vehicle. The .tank had bath ends and a portion af the centre blown ’out. The resrt af the oar shows no signs of the violence of the exipOlasiion. The police found two wooden matches, partly burnt, lying on the ground under the tank, but could not drao&ver any traioea of a box, in which wooden matches are sold. A box of wax matches, however,, was discovered in one of the packets of the late Mr llmice’s olotbing. It ia assumed that the explosion shattered the box Of safety matches, and that would explain the absence of it. The explosion wae so severe that a portion of the deceased’s head woe found a chain away. The body was lying across the road near the tank, with.»the head towards the left side. The inquest will he held to-day at 9.30 a.m.