PLUNGE OVER CLIFF.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1924, Page 6

PLUNGE OVER CLIFF.

WAGGON FALLS INTO RIVER. DRIVER SERIOUSLY INJURE? ACCIDENT ON OKAU ROAI> Serious injuries were sustained bj Richard O’Donnell, a carrier, of Tongaporutu, yesterday as a result of hie horse team plunging over a cliff on the Okau Road, and precipitating the driver and his waggon into the Tongaporutu River. How the a’ccident happened is not clear, but it appears that one of the horses was startled by a falling piece of papa, which struck it while a narrow stretch of the road was .being negotiated, the road at this point skirts the river, while on the other side it is bordered by a high papa cliff. Before Mr. O’Donnell could jump clear tha frightened horses plunged over the cliff, dragging the vehicle with them. The driver was thrown into the river with his team, and it was some time before he was rescued from his precarious position at the foot of the cliff. He was later eent to the New Plymouth Hospital, where he was admitted last night suffering from two fractured ribs and contusions to his legs and arms. One of the horses was drowned, but the other was able to free itself and swim ashore. The hospital reported early this morning that Mr. O'Donnell’s condition was quite satisfactory.