WEDDING DAY TRAGEDY

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1931, Page 14 (Supplement)

WEDDING DAY TRAGEDY

BRIDE’S BROTHER KILLED.

CAR CRASHES AFTER CEREMONY.

Norfolk Island, January 21. The first serious motor-car accident that has occurred on ( Norfolk Island happfeSed on. Wednesday, January 14, when a promising ■ young islander was killed outright and the driver and two passengers in the same car were painfully injured. . * . An evening wedding had been celebrated at six o’clock at the Mission Church, Pine Avenue. The contracting parties were Mr. Martin Quintal, son of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Quintal, Kingston, and Miss Emma Evans; daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Evans, Cascades Road. The wedding party were on their way home from the church. The second car. was driven by Mr. Cameron Oppenhavin, a young islander who had recently obtained his driver’s license. His passengers were Mr. Richard (Borry) Evans, aged about 23 years, a brother of the bride, Miss Oorlette, bridesmaid, and Mrs. R. Douran. On a perfectly level, but dusty, stretch of Pilie Avenue the near front wheel struck the edge of the earthen watertable, which smashed the wheel, the axle ploughing into the earth and dragging round the car until it mounted a bank and capsized into the road, falling heavily on three of the occupants. Mr. Evans was killed outright, his head and body being terribly crushed. Mrs. Douran received a deep scalp wound in the back of the head and severe bruises. The driver sustained, a broken collarbone and was severely injured in the shoulder and elsewhere. Miss Corlette, although thrown clear, had her elbow broken and was much bruised about the shoulders. Help was immediately available and the car was lifted off the three pinned underneath it. Dr. Duke was quickly summoned. The two ladies, were taken to the hospital and the driver to his home.

The body of Mr. Evans was removed to his parents’ home, where the wedding breakfast had been laid. The funeral, which was exceptionally well attended, took place the following day, the Rev. J. W. Robinson, who had celebrated the wedding, officiating at the graveside. Much sympathy is expressed for the parents, who witnessed the tragedy, as their son was an extremely promising young man.