MOTORING TRAGEDY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17145, 30 December 1929, Page 7

MOTORING TRAGEDY

GISBORNE MAN KILLED THREE OTHERS INJURED (Special to the Herald.) MASTERTON, this day. John Daniel Handle, a painter, of Gisborne, was killed instantly yesterday morning at Ureytown, when a car he was driving overturned on the main road, three other occupants of the car, tho deceased's sister, Airs. M. Edwards, her son, Mr. Claude Henry Edwards, and Miss Alice Osborn—ali of Uisbome, escaped with bruises and a severe sbaaing, but. were admitted to Grey town Hospital. Handle and his party were proceeding from Gisborne to Wellington, en route to Dunedin, and had left Masterton, where they had stayed for the night, earlier in - the morning. The accident occurred at about 11.50 o'clock in the vicinity of the Greytown Fruit Growing Co.'s property on the main road. It appears that the car left the asphalt road and struck a watertaible at the side of the road. The driver then endeavored to bring the car back on the road, with the result that it turned a somersault, landing on its wheels again. The hood was crushed in, the driver being killed instantly, suffering terrible head" injuries. Mrs. Edwards, who also occupied the front seat, was severely bruised, and is suffering greatly from shock. The two other occupants of tho car escaped more lightly with leg injuries. It is reported that the car was travelling at a moderate speed, and the occurrence seems to have ibeen purely accidental. The deceased was 47 years of Mr. E. Collier, manager of the FruitGrowing Co., immediately summoned medical aid and the ambulance, and the injured people were removed to Greytown Hospital. The inquest opened this morning, when formal evidence was taken. The death of Mr. Randle will occasion deep regret in Gisborne, where he was j well known during the past eight months. The deceased was a brother of the late Mr. C'lias. Handle, whose death occurred under tragic circumstances last May, and in that month Mr. John Randlo came to Gisborne, and had since resided here, (being in the employ of Messrs. F. Hall and Son. Mr. Handle was on his way to Wellington, where he was to meet his wife, and together they were going on to Dunedin to celebrate the coming of age of their eldest son, Mr. lan Handle, the deceased and the other members of the party'having left Gisborne on Friday last. Mr. Handle leaves two sons and one daughter, and the sympathy of a wide circle of friends will be extended to them and to the widow in their sad loss. Miss Alice Osborn, who resides in Lyndhurst street, Gisborne, is the daughter of Mrs. and the late Mr. J. H. Osborn, and she and Mr. Edwards are well-known Gisborne musicians, having taken part in many amateur concerts, and in the competitions, the former as a pianist and the latter as a vocalist. Mr. Edwards ds employed by Messrs. J. S. Allan and Son. Miss Osborn is suffering from a sprained ankle, and Mr. Edwards, who sustained superficial injuries, was expected to be discharged to-day. It is understood that Mrs. Edwards will be confined to hospital for about a fortnight.