WOMAN KILLED IN CAR ACCIDENT ON PARAPARA ROAD

Wanganui Chronicle, 16 April 1949, Page 4

WOMAN KILLED IN CAR ACCIDENT ON PARAPARA ROAD

When a light motor-car crashed over a bank into a stream on the Wanganui-Raetihi highway about 8.45 a.m. on Thursday a woman was killed and a man and his two daughters received injuries which required their admission to hospital. They were:— KILLED. Mrs. Gladys Amelia Smaller, aged •13 years, wife of Mr. D. V. F. Smaller. INJURED. Mr Douglas Valentine Ferrar Smal? lor, freezing works employee and horse breaker, of 18 Bennett Street, Gonville. Probable fracture of ribs, head injuries and shock. Condition serious on admission, but now slightly improved. Heather Smaller, aged 14 years. Head injuries and concussion. Condition comfortable. Doreen Smaller, aged 9 years. Shock. Condition satisfactory. Mr. Smaller and his family were driving to Auckland when the accident occurred at a bridge on the metal portion of the highway about a mile beyond the 31-mile peg. The car left the road at a bridge and came to rest in the stream about 15 feet below, in shallow water. Just before the accident the car had met the Wanganui-Raetihi bus, which was en route to the city. A passenger on the bus saw the car leave the road and notified the driver, Mr. J. Kerr. Men from the bus went to the assistance of the passengers on the car Mrs. Smaller had apparently been killed instantaneously. Mr. Smaller was still behind the wheel and was unconscious and the two children were in the back seat. An ambulance from the Wanganui Public Hospital was dispatched tc the scene of the accident by the police, who were advised of the accident about 10 minutes after it occurred. The ambulance brought the injured people to hospital. Mr. Smaller and the late Mrs. Smaller have a family of nine children.

An inquest on Mrs. Smaller was opened on Thursday before the district coroner, Mr. S. M. Dixon, and was adjourned sine die after evidence of identification had been given.