CAR COLLIDES WITH BRIDGE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20875, 15 November 1929, Page 10

CAR COLLIDES WITH BRIDGE.

ROLLS DOWN STEEP BANK. BLACKBERRY BUSHES PREVENT TRAGEDY. The Rev. James Rattray, Presbyterian minister, and , four occupants of his car narrowly escaped being involved in a tragedy at Ahaura bridge, on Sunday afternoon, when returning homewards t E ni co , n ,^ u ,^ l ng a young people’s service at Blackball. Mr Rattray .was accompanied by ■'Mlstf M'Kechnie, teacher, Totara Flat, and three'children of - the Bruce family, Ahaura; As the car-was ■ approaching the Ahaura bridge the wheels skidded in some loose grave], and although the driver regained control of the car, he was not in tilBS 15 prevent a head-on collision with the abutment of the bridge. The car toppled 01 er the unfonced side of the approach, and rolled completely over two or three times down the steep bank, until it was Stopped by a dense growth of blac’cbernee a .few feet from the brink of a sheer urtp into the river. None of the occupants was hurt, and they were able to extricate themselves and regain the road, the breakdown plant was summoned from Ahaura.. and within an hour the car was. pulled up on the road. The damage was trivial, being mainly conhnea to the hood and buffer, and Air Rattray was able to resume hie journey under the car’s own power, and conduct the service at Ikamatua in the evening. But for the luxuriant growth of blackpeiry bushes.the accident would probably have ended in tragedy.