Three Buried Under Crashing Landslide

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 687, 12 June 1929, Page 11

Three Buried Under Crashing Landslide

TWO OTHERS HURT BULLER GORGE FATALITY Press Association WESTPORT, Tuesday. Three people were killed and two others were injured at Blackwater, in the Buller Gorge, this evening as the result of a landslip striking a motor-lorry on which they were riding. Those who were killed are: Mrs. Parker, wife of the driver of the lorry. Mrs. Southon, mother of Mrs. Parker. Mrs. Parker’s infant daughter. Another child of Mr. and Mrs. Parker was seriously injured and Mr. Parker himself is suffering from injuries and shock. It is stated that when the accident occurred Mr. Parker, who is a carrier, was driving from Inangahua Junction to Tiroroa, 13 miles from Westport. His wife, two children and Mrs. Southon were riding on the lorry. In order to allow a service-car from Nelson to pass through the gorge Mr. Parker pulled his lorry to the side of the road. At that moment a large slip came crashing down the side of the gorge, with a tree embedded in the debris.

’the tree struck the lorry Violently, killing Mrs. Southon, Mrs. Parker and her infant daughter. Mr. Parker escaped death, but was injured. The crash was heard by Mr. Quinn, who was in the car that had passed, and he went back to the scene. Assistance was procured from a railway construction camp and willing helpers rescued the other child who, however, was seriously injured.

Apparently the tree fell on one side of the cab and half tipped the lorry, which then righted itself. When the rescuers arrived on the scene of the accident, Mrs. Parker and the infant were already dead. Mrs. Southon was buried underneath the wreckage and rescuers were unable to extricate her for a considerable time. The lorry was practically undamaged. T he bodies of the three victims were subsequently recovered from the debris and brought to Westport. The rescued child was taken to the hospital, but Mr. Parker remained at the medical hut at Tiroroa. This morning Mr. Parker and the boy were reported to be progressing favourably. The slip was due to the heavy rain experienced during the past few days. The tragedy occurred within a chain of the place where Messrs. Atkinson and Watson lost their lives.