SENSATIONAL MOTORING ACCIDENT.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12772, 20 April 1910, Page 2

SENSATIONAL MOTORING ACCIDENT.

CAR FALLS OVER A CLIFF.

MIRACULOUS ESCAPES

A motoring accident of a startling naturo happened yesterday morning near the top of tho Wangamoa hill, being happily unaccompanied by fatal results, the occupants of the car escaping most miraculously almost scatheless.

Mr and Mrs William Cate, of Blenbeim, were travelling to Nelson in a 10-12 horse power Allday car, and on tlie previous night had broken the journey at Wangamoa. Yesterday morning they commenced the final stage of the trip, and at about 10 o'clock were nearing tho top of the hill when the steering gear of the car failed at a turn.

The car was then travelling at about ten miles an hour, and Mr Cate Jiad not time to operate the brakes efficiently before the vehicle reached the brink of the precipice which skirts the road. Seeing that a disaster was inevitable, Mrs Cate jumped, sustaining only a slight shaking. She was on her feet again in time to see her husband, who had stuck to the car, disappearing with it over the precipice, which is there about fifty feet deep, and except for soma fern, destitute of vegetation.

In the course of its descent the car turned over, depositing Mr Cate on a projecting ledge, to which he was able to cling. The- car continued its fall, fetching up on the rocks in the river, and being smashed to pieces. All the personal effects of Mr and Mrs Cate went into the river also. Mrs Cate, who witnessed practically the whole, affair, was naturally in great apprehension regarding her husband's safety, but was reassured by his -calling out that he was uninjured. She secured the assistance of Mr Lyford, who lives close by, and Messrs Frost and Withers also came along, and by their nelp Mr Cate reached the road, and a few articles were rescued from tho wreck. After resting at Mr Withers' residence, Mr and Mrs Cate cam© on in a conveyance sent out from town in- response to atelephone message. Mr Cate states that lie had driven the car for some time, and it had never developed any fault whatever previously. He surmises that a pin in a connecting rod of the steering gear by some meansfellout. He valued the car at about £350. Two ladies who were to have accompanied Mr and Mrs Cate from Blenheim were detained at the last moment, and cames on by boat.