SAD FATALITY

Opunake Times, 27 June 1939, Page 2

SAD FATALITY

WAREA GIRL KILLED Tit AGIO CAB SMASH One young woman received fatal and three other young women, occupants of a large sedan car, were hurt, when the vehicle crashed into the Heimama stream bridge, just north of Opunake, at 4 o’clock on Saturday afternoon. All the occupants, after receiving medical at-

tention, were conveyed to the New Plymouth hospital. The victim was: Miss Lillian Marie Doyle, agei 21 years, only daughter of Mrs Bridget Doyle, widow, of Warea

Miss Lillian Marie Doyle, aged 21 years, only daughter of Mrs Bridget Doyle, widow, of Warea Death was due to severe head in juries. Those injured were:

Miss Ann Doyle, aged ID years, daughter of Mr. Thomas Doyle, q£ Warea, and cousin of the girl fatally injured; extensive facial injuries and fractured left forearm.

Miss Hannah Doody, aged 27 years, daughter of Mr. John Doody, of Pungarehu; extensive facial injuries.

Miss. Eileen Doody, aged 24 years, sister of Miss Hannah Doody; superficial abrasions.

With Miss Eileen Doody driving the car, which belonged to Mrs. M. Fleming, of Pungarehu, a sister of the Misses Doody, the girls were travelling to Opunake from Pungarehu, where they had played a basketball match with a visiting Opunake team. There had been heavy rain throughout the afternoon, and the road in the vicinity of the point at which the accident occurred was said to be in a greasy condition. BoundI ing the bend at the top of a slight rise leading down to the bridge, it is believed that Miss Doody braked the car, or swung it to the right.

A slight skid mark appeared at that point, and the car continued, to brush against the wing of the bridge on the right-hand side. It then collided more violently with the main concrete support at the corner of the hand-rail and came to rest with the front against that point. The radiator and the engine itself were pushed back a considerable distance and the bonnet was crumpled out of recognition. The driver’s seat also was displaced by the impact, and it believed that the passengers in the rear seat suffered injuries when they were hurled against it. Miss Lily Doyle, who was seated beside the driver, was thrown against a part of the car and suffered severe injuries. Shortly after the accident, Mr. B. Lawson, who was driving his taxi, appeared on. the scene, and he immediately gave assistance to the injured occupants, whom he conveyed to Opunake. They received medical attention from Drs. T. N. Watt and W. Watt, and. were latey removed by ambulance to the New Plymouth Hospital. There, Miss Lily Doyle died shortly before midnight on Saturday. The condition of the others is. not serious, and Miss Eileen Doody was able to leave the hospital yesterday.

After evidence of identification had been given by the Bev. Father Donoghue, the inquest, which opened before Mr. W. H. Woodward, S.M., at New Plymouth on Sunday, was adjourned sine die. The funeral of the late Miss Doyle was held yesterday and the large attendance indicated the widespread nature of the sympathy felt with Mrs. Doyle in her sad bereavement.