CONSTABLE KILLED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23884, 11 August 1939, Page 10

CONSTABLE KILLED

COMPANION SEVERELY INJURED CAR CRASHES FROM BRIDGE FALL OF TWELVE FEET < Special to Daily Times) WAIMATE, Aug. 10. The shooting tragedy at Redcliff, in which the brothers George and Harold Bell lost their lives, has been followed by another tragic occurrence, resulting in the death of Constable W. J. Watt. Constables Black and Watt left Waimate last evening to make further investigations on the scene of the Redcliff tragc ly. Drizzling rain made visibility poor and the road was very slimier". The car in which they were travelling skidded into the railing of the Elephant Hill bridge, smashing through and falling upside down on the creek bed 12 feet below. Constable Black managed to crawl out of the wreckage and made his way back to the road in an endeavour to summon assistance—a feat described by a doctor as remarkable in view of his injuries. Luckily there was only sufficient water in the creek to wet the men.

By a fortunate circumstance another motorist used this far from busy road very shortly after. Mr W. A. Bell, of Hook, who was also on his way to the scene of the shooting tragedy found the injured men, who were removed by ambulance, with Dr R. G- Shackleton and Constable G. Dunlop in attendance, to the public hospital. The_ men were in a semi-conscious condition. Constable Watt, who was believed to be injured internally, died at 7 o’clock this morning. It was stated later that Constable Black’s condition was satisfactory. Both constables were married men and popular and efficient officers. Constable Watt leaves three children, including a baby nine months old. Constable Black has five young children.