WOMAN KILLED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 935, 4 December 1933, Page 4

WOMAN KILLED.

Car Backs Over Steep Bank At Corsair Bay. ROLLS TWO HUNDRED FEET. A five-seater sedan car backed over a steep incline at Corsair Bay yesterday afternoon and hurtled two hundred feet on to the rocks below. A woman passenger was killed and two boys were injured. Killed. Mrs Jessie Harris, aged thirty years, of 126, Mackenzie Avenue, Woolston. Injured. George Stant, aged eight years, of 126, Mackenzie Avenue, Woolston. Shock and injuries to scalp and left wrist. Kelvin Stant, aged six years, of 126, Mackenzie Avenue, Woolston. Shock and injuries to scalp and left wrist. The * driver of the car, Mr David Ludecke, a factory, overseer, of 28, Dampier Street, Woolston, suffered shock and abrasions, but after a medical examination was able to proceed to his home. The two boys were taken to the Christchurch Hospital after they had been treated at the Lyttelton casualty ward. Their condition last evening was reported to be slightly serious. Mrs Harris, who was housekeeper for Mr G. 11. Stant. went for a drive on the hills yesterday afternoon with Mr Ludecke, having with her Mr Stant s two sons. On reaching the Governor’s Bay side of Corsair Bay, Mr Ludecke stopped at Rocky Point, a place where a large rock stands out from the road. There is a small patch of clear ground just off the road, and Mr Ludecke decided to park the car there. Car Slips Down Slope. Two people stood on the corner of the road and watched him back oft the road. In backing, something happened and the car slipped down the slope, the brakes apparently faili/ig to act in time.- It gathered speed down the steep incline, and rolled o/er several times, finally crashing on to the rocks two hundred feet below. The hood was torn off and the passengers were thrown out before the car had rolled two chains. Mrs Haris, who was in the front seat, was apparently killed outright, her skull being fractured. The two boys were, found lying further down the incline, both in a semi-conscious condition. Mr Ludecke, who was thrown out last, was also semiconscious when found. He was trying to climb up to the road. Three people narrowly escaped serious injury as the car roiled down to the rocks. A woman who was halfway down the slope just managed t/> get out of the wav in time, while a man and his wife who were fishing cn the rocks below received a shock as the far camg to rest only a short distance away A Large Crowd. The accident occurred shortly after three o’clock, and although were not many witnesses, a large soon collected, the fine weather having drawn numbers of picnickers to the bay. The caretaker at Corsair Bay, Mr J. Torrens, sent his son by car to Lyttelton to advise the police and the St John Free Ambulance. When they arrived, the body of Mrs Harris had been removed by private car to the Lyttelton casualty ward. Dr Thomas, of the New Zealand Shipping Company’s liner, Rotorua, rendered first-aid to Mr Ludecke and the Stant boys, who were l4ter taken to Lyttelton by the St John Free Ambulance. . At the Lyttelton casualty ward the}' were attended to by Dr C. H. Upham. Three stitches were inserted in the arms of each boy, and they were then brought over tO: Christchurch. Mr Ludecke was able .to proceed to his home. The car was damaged beyond repair, pieces being strewn all the way down the incline. It was lying on the rocks and was soon covered by water when the tide came in. The police recovered some parts.