SMASH AT OTAIO

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 21064, 16 June 1938, Page 6

SMASH AT OTAIO

Car Hurtles Through Bridge OCCUPANTS HURT Rescued by Passing Motorist Apparently skidding on the frozen surface of the Otaio River bridge, about a mile and a-half south of St. Andrews, a modern model coupe containing three Timaru residents crashed through the railing of the bridge between 8 o'clock and 8.30 last night. The car somersaulted and fell 16 feet to the riverbed below, all of the occupants being injured. The injured were:— Robert Monson (47). 64 Elizabeth Street, injured shoulder, cuts, bruises and shock. Walter Shea (50), 54 Craigie Avenue, injured shoulder, cuts, bruises and shock. Kevin Shea (13), Shea’s son, head injuries and concussion. Walter Shea and Monson were not seriously injured, but last night Kevin Shea, who is a cripple, was in a serious condition. In its plunge, the car carried away a chain of the east side of the bridge, which is approximately six chains long, falling on dry ground between two channels of the river. It somersaulted and came to rest on its top facing south with the wheels in the air. Rescue by Motorist As far as could be ascertained last night, there were no witnesses to the accident. Mr A. J. M. Cadman, of Timaru. was driving south and passed over the bridge at 8.30. He noticed the marks on the surface of the bridge, which was covered with hoar frost, and saw that the side had been carried away. Returning, he called over the side and received a summons for help. With the aid of a car rug, which he used as a rope, he succeeded in bringing all of the injured occupants to the bridge again and rushed them to Timaru Public Hospital in his car. The damaged car, which was driven b; Monson, was apparently travelling north. It was badly smashed, portions of the body being punctured by the woodwork of the bridge as it crashed through. An unconfirmed report last night stated that Shea and his son were travelling to Timaru in the former’s car which broke down and Monson was giving them a lift back to town. Later in the night, Public Works employees erected a temporary railing at the scene of the accident.