TRAGEDY ON PAEKAKARIKI

Taranaki Daily News, 24 November 1930, Page 9

TRAGEDY ON PAEKAKARIKI

LEAP TO DEATH FROM LORRY WILD CAREER DOWN LONG HILL. DRIVER INJURED IN FINAL CRASH By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. A passenger in -the cab of a motorlorry was killed when, heavily laden with drums of petrol, the vehicle raced out of control down Paekakariki hill on Saturday. After careering wildly for 200 yards the lorry left the road, somersaulted three times and was prevented from rolling 600 feet to the bottom of the hill only by striking a telegraph pole. Frederick Afitridge was killed instantly when he jumped from the runaway vehicle, while the driver, who remained at the wheel until the lorry went over the bank, miraculously escaped with a broken leg, injuries to his back and shock. They were the only occupants of the vehicle. Mr. Astridge was a married man with two children living at 6 Taupo Quay, Wanganui. The injured man is George Gay, single, Koputaroa, Levin. The lorry, belonging to tile Hawera Transport Company, of which Mr. Astridge was manager in Wanganui, was proceeding from Wellington with a load of approximately four tons. About a mile from the summit the driver found he had lost control and that both brakes would not check the speed. His companion decided to make a jump for safety but the driver remained at the wheel until thrown out. After the lorry had somersaulted three times the smashed pieces were scattered down the hillside, the chassis rested against the telegraph pole, the body was further down, and the oil drums were at the foot of the hill. ' . The injured man was taken to the Paekakariki hotel and subsequently was placed aboard the express train and taken to Palmerston North hospital. He thinks something broke in the gear box as he vms coming down in low gear.