CAR FALLS IN GORGE

Taranaki Daily News, 4 January 1927, Page 9

CAR FALLS IN GORGE

PLUNGE OF 150 FEET. OCCUPANTS’ LUCKY ESCAPE. Rotorua, Jan. 1. To fall with a motor-car for a distance of over 150 ft. from the top of a cliff into the gorge below and to escape with only superficial injuries was the remarkable experience of a party of Maoris when proceeding from Wairakei to Taupo between midnight and 1 a.m. to-day. The car, belonging to the Aard Motor Company, and driven by Mr. E. W. Moisley, was conveying three passengers. When it reached an acute bend in the road the car left the road and fell into the gorge. The driver sustained a broken thumb, bruises and several abrasions. A native girl passenger, aged 15 years, suffered a lacerated leg, bruises and shock. The other passengers, two young men, escaped with only a severe shaking. When giving an account of the mishap the driver said he had just turned the car when the steering gear broke. He felt the car turn over on to its side and then go right over. Glass was flying all about him. He did not know any more until he came to at the bottom of the cliff.

“I crawled out,” he said, “and called to the others. For a time I got no answer, then the girl replied. I found the other two Maoris were only dazed. I told them to stop there and I climbed the cliff and walked back two miles to Wairakei to get assistance. I got into communication with Constable Me Mui - lan at Taupo. We then returned and got the others up on to the road and proceeded to Taupo.”