ROAD FATALITY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19623, 5 May 1938, Page 4

ROAD FATALITY

TOKOMARU BAY VICTIM POUND LYING IN ROAD MAORI WATERSIDER (Special to the Herald.)

TOKOMARU BAY, this day. Shortly after 5.45 p.m. yesterday, Mr John Beattie, taxi-driver, reported to the police that he had run over the body of a man, which was lying on Beach road. The victim proved to be a Maori, Wi Huihui, who has been employed at Tokomaru Bay for some years as a waterside worker. Mr. Huihui, a single man, died later from his injuries.

Mr. Beattie stated that while driving his car along Beach road he suddenly saw a dark object lying on the road right in front of the car. He did not sight the obstruction until too late to avoid sunning over it, visibility being much affected at the time by rain and drizzle. The car passed over it, and pulled up a few yards beyond.

On going back to examine the obstruction, which he had thought was a log, Mr. Beattie discovered Mr. Huihui, lying badly injured in the roadway.

The police are conducting inquiries regarding the movements of Mr. Huihui, who may have been suffering from "injury or illness before being struck by Mr. Beattie's vehicle. At the expense of considerable effort, and with the aid of a party of roadmen, Dr. E. C. Grant managed to reach Tokomaru Bay from Te Puia, when informed of the grave condition of the injured man. The streams between Tokomaru Bay and Te Puia were flooded, and ordinary traffic was suspended, but the doctor's car was worked through the flooded fords and past the toes of slips on the road, to make the journey in good time considering the conditions. Dr. Grant later returned to Te Puia, again having the assistance of the roadmen on his unenviable trip.