AMAZING ESCAPE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19826, 31 December 1938, Page 16

AMAZING ESCAPE

OCCUPANTS OF CAR PLUNGE OVER PRECIPICE Two occupants of a .car that left the Auckland-New Plymouth main road over Mount Messenger on Thursday afternoon had a remarkable escape from serious injury. Half a mile farther on another car that was taking one of the pair to New Plymouth was involved in a collision and had to be abandoned.

A sedan car driven by Mr. W. Roy. Dunedin, who was accompanied by his wife, was descending Mount Messenger on the New Plymouth side when the driver failed to negotiate a corner. The car plunged down a sheer precipice for 100 ft. before striking the bush, Ithrough which it tore its way for another 50ft., coming to rest 150 ft. below the road level and facing uphill. Mrs. Roy received cuts and abrasions on the knee, but Mr. Roy escaped with severe shock. To reach Mrs. Roy and ascertain if she could be moved, Dr. Taylor was lowered over the precipitous cliff by a rope with the aid of about a dozen motorists who had gathered. Mrs. Roy's condition was found to be not serious, and she was brought up to the road and taken to Waitara by Dr. Taylor.

A Public Works Department car, in which Mr. Roy was being driven, had covered only half a mile when it collided heavily with a car driven, by Mr. Hendricksen, of Palmerston North. Both cars were badly damaged, but no one was injured.