TWO BROTHERS KILLED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17456, 3 January 1931, Page 5

TWO BROTHERS KILLED

ACCIDENT AT TANGOIO CAR FELL 250 FT. FATAL JOURNEY FROM GISBORNE A motoring accident of a .shocking nature occurred last evening on Tangoio Hill on the Gisborne-Napier road, as the result of which two brothers, Messrs. Bernard and Willed Osborne, of Palmerston North, lost their lives. 'J heir car was unable to pass a stationary service car at the Devil’s Elbow, and left the road, capsizing over the bank, and turning over and over before coining to rest about. 250 ft. below tiie level of the roadway.

Messrs. Osborne had many friends in Gisborne, and frequently paid visits to tlie town. Both were single men, Air. Bernard .Osborne being about 58 years o' age, and his brother about 30. and they lived with their widowed mother in Palmerston North. There are two sisters -In Gisborne, Mrs. J. 11. Evans, of Fox street, and Airs. .1. A. Price, of Stout street, and the brothers had been staying with Mr. and Airs. Evans for two days, and were returning home to Palmerston North. Tiie accident occurred at about 7.15 p.m. It is not known which of the brothers, who were the only occupants of the car, was driving, but both were skilled drivers and had frequently travelled over the road between Napier and Gisborne. Apparently on this occasion they were hugging the hank in view of the narrowness of the road, and did not see the service car until it was too late for them to recover their position. The- driver of the service car, Mr. Kendrew, saw the Osbornes’ car approaching on its wrong side, and immediately pulled up as far as possible to ill© left-hand side of the road. Presumably the driver of the private car, a large five-seater, did not notice the other vehicle until he rounded the bend, and then made a hasty attempt to move over io his correct side. The Osbornes’ car grazed the other, and the angle at which it crossed the road made it impossible for the driver to straighten up and pass. The car plunged over the bank, and turned over several times before it came to rest. ASSISTANCE FOR THE VICTIMS With Afr. Kendrew in the service car were three passengers, an elderly lady. Mrs. Grant, and two young men. the three men immediately scrambled down to the wrecked car, where they /omul that on© of the victims was still alive, though his brother appeared to have been killed instantly. The injured man was carried with great difficulty to the road on a camp stretcher taken from his car, but though Airs. Grant did all she could for him, it was obvious from the first that he was beyond aid, and he died shortly afterwards. Wjien the driver of the service car and his male passengers went down to the private car, Mrs. Grant remained to stop passers-by, and within a short period two 1 other service cars and the night mail truck arrived at the scene of the accident, and rendered valuable assistance. The bodies were taken to Napier last night. The Osbornes left Palmerston North on Wednesday of last week on a motor camping tour, and fished at Taupo and Rotorua before coming on to Gisborne. 'They arrived here on Wednesday niglit, and .after spending two days with Mr. and Mrs. Evans; left yesterday to return home.

The victims of the accident were born in Foxton, and with four other brothers served in the Great War, from which the six brothers were .spared to return home. Their father died about three years ago, and since then the deceased had been living with their mother.

Mrs. Evans and Mrs. Price, to whom the sympathy of everyone will be extended in their tragically sudden bereavement. left Gisborne early this morning for Palmerston North.