COLT SUFFOCATED

Wanganui Chronicle, 19 January 1948, Page 6

COLT SUFFOCATED

MISHAP OJI ROAD WHEN FLOAT OVERTURNS ACCIDENT 20 MILES FROM WAIOURU (Special) Wellington, Jan. 18. A valuable yearling colt by Foxbridge was killed and another by Gold Nib is not expected to recover from injuries received in an accident which occurred on the Desert Road, 20 miles from Waiouru, shortly after midnight on Friday. , The yearlings, the property of Mr. A. T. Cooper, Puahue, Te Awamutu, were travelling lo Trentham, where they were to be auctioned on the third day of the National Yearling Sales on Wednesday. The surviving yearlings in the consignment have been withdrawn from the sale. A motor float driven by Mr. Colin Self, transport operator, Te Awamutu, left Mr. Cooper’s farm about 5 p.m. on Friday, carrying six horses, five of these were the property of Mr. Cooper. About midnight, when 20 miles from Waiouru in driving rain, the float came to grief through the softened pumice road subsiding under the weight of the laden vehicle. One side of the float slipped about three feet over the edge of the crumbling road and the float came to rest on its side against the bank. The loading side of the float fell against the bank and It was impossible to release the three yearlings travelling in the forward compartment. As the accident occurred about 20 miles from the nearest assistance, it was unfortunate that the animals spent about seven hours trapped in the vehicle. The three travelling in the rear compartment were unloaded without much difficulty. They escaped with superficial abrasions. When assistance was obtained and the float was righted, it was discovered that the Foxbridge colt had been suffcated by his two companions in their struggles to release themselves. (See earlier story on page 4.)