DRIVER MISSING

Southland Times, Issue 21089, 22 May 1930, Page 9

DRIVER MISSING

CAR SUSPENDED OVER RIVER. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, May 21. About 11.30 last night a five-seater car was discovered suspended over the parapet of the bridge over the Tamaki River south of Otahuhu. The front of the car had crashed through the parapet and hung over the water. The left-hand door was open and in the water directly below was found a man’s overcoat. The river had been searched but the driver of the car was not found. - It was ascertained this morning that the driver was Alexander Duthie, aged 38, a prominent business man of-Waiuku. Before entering business at Waiuku he departmental manager of a firm in Christchurch and was married with one child. At th? time of the accident Duthie was motoring to meet his brother, Mr R. T. Duthie, who was arriving by train from Dunedin. CAR .IDENTIFIED SEARCH FOR DRIVER UNSUCCESSFUL. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, May 21. The motor car found suspended over the Tamaki River bridge at Otahuhu on Tuesday night has been identified as belonging to Alexander Duthie, outfitter of Waiuku. It is thought that Duthie fell from the car and was drowned in the Tamaki River. Duthie left Waiuku on Tuesday evening to meet his brother, Mr. R. T. Duthie of Dunedin, who -was arriving by train from Wellington. As far as it is known, he was unaccompanied. At the time he was passing over the Tamaki Bridge it was raining and it is thought that the driver’s visibility was obscured. The car was found with its left front wheel and radiator hanging over the parapet of the bridge and the left hand front door open. A search for the occupant was commenced on Tuesday evening and was continued throughout .to-day without success. A drag net was obtained by the Otahuhu Police, and a sergeant and five constables, together with several civilians, carried out a search. Particular attention was paid to a neighbouring mud flat, but no trace of the missing man could be found. The search will be continued.