MOTOR TRAGEDY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19478, 22 December 1925, Page 9

MOTOR TRAGEDY

LITTLE GIRL KILLED ANOTHER SERIOUSLY INJURED SAD AFFAIR AT NEW PLYMOUTH. CAR DRIVEN BY WELL-KNOWN WANGANUI MAN. [Per Pres;’ Association.] NEW PLYMOUTH, Dec. 22. A girl, aged six, was killed, and another girl, aged three, lies in hospital in a. critical condition as a, result of being knocked over by a, motor car in New Plymouth this afternoon. The children were, Gladys May O’Dea, aged six years and nine, months, daughter of Mr. E. O’Dea, a railway employee of 51 Hine Street, killed: Doreen Walsh, aged three years and six months, daughter of Edward Walsh, labourer, same address, serious injuries to head, condition critical. Tho accident occurred in St. Aubyn Street, close to Morley Street intersection, shortly after 4.30 p.m. Thomas Henry Lovegrove, stevedore, of Wan ganui, was driving a motor car towards the breakwater, and is stated to have been travelling on his correct side of the road and at a slow speed, a tram car being near. The children apparently were on the. footpath and then suddenly ran in front of the car. Lovegrove immediately pulled his car up, but the distance was too short to enable him to avoid tho children, and both were struck on the head.

Tho little girl O’Dea was dead when picked up, death being considered to have been instantaneous. Medical assistance was immediately obtained and Doreen Walsh was sent tn hospital, where just before midnight she was reported to bo in a critical condition.