Car's Wild Plunge

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 19 February 1936, Page 9

Car's Wild Plunge

YOUNG MAN KILLED

Three Companions Hurt,

■A man, aged 22, was fatally injured on Saturday afternoon last, when a new motor car, a birthday present received a few hours previously by the driver, left' the main road between Waiwera and Puhoi and. crashed 160 ft. down a steep bankj finally coming to rest on its right side. The victims of the accident were: _ Killed. Mr Arthur Trevor Day, aged 22, ..single, son of Mr and Mrs J. Day, of Matakana. . Injured. Mr J. R. Rawlings, aged 22, .single, of 62, Albert Road, Devonport, fractured leg';' not serious. Ronald Uogan, aged 17, of 46, Mozley Avenue, Devonport, internal injuries; serious. Ross Jones, aged 18, of Matakana, slight facial and ankle injuries and shock. - Ml Rawlings had received the car, a light sedan, as a birthday present from his mother, and with three friends was out lor a trial run. ; The car had just reached ■3he crest of the hill about a mile past Waiwera, when it touched the side of a car approaching from the opposite direction and driven b^ Mr R. Sadler, of Maungaturoto. Mr Rawlings' vehicle became out of control and leaving the road, plunged over the bank and somersaulted down the hillside. : '

- Messrs Day and Rawlings were found lying together 50it. from the road, Cogan was beside the car, but Jones climbed back to the roadway and stopped . a -passing service car. He was too dazed to remember how far he had accompanied the car down the incline. Dr. G. H. Osborne, of Warkworth, was soon on the scene; but found that Day was already dead. Mr Rawlings and Cogan were taken to the Auckland hospitalin a St. John ambulance. Mr Jones was able to go to relatives at Matakana. The car was very badly damaged. The body of Mr Day was removed to Warkworth,where an inquest was opened on Sunday by Mr A. J. S. Warm, coroner, and adjourned.