Elizabeth Spender, 1888-17/2/1927

MOTOR SPORTS END ABRUPTLY

CARS COLLIDE 

ONE PERSON KILLED AND FOUR SEVERELY INJURED

 (United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day. The Kaitaia motor sports at Ninety Mile Beach were abruptly terminated yesterday afternoon as a result of a collision between two cars, one of which was competing in the five miles open handicap. The accident caused the death of a passenger, Mrs Elizabeth Spencer, of Rawene, and severe injuries to four other occupants. 

HOW THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED 

VICTIMS AMONGST THE WRECKAGE 

AUCKLAND, This Day. One account of the Ninety Mile Beach fatality says the accident happened during the last race of the day, at 3.26 p.m. Fitzherbert, in a Dort car, had completed one lap of the course and was turning in front of the judges’ box when a Hudson car driven by Eisenhurt and approaching from Ahipara end of the beach came down the sand at a rapid pace and headed straight for the racing track. An official reports that he tried to flag the Hudson car off the course, but evidently he was not observed as the Hudson came on without any apparent slackening of speed, swerving very slightly, and struck the Dort car just where Mrs Spender was sitting. The whole of the body of the Dort parted from the chassis and was hurled 15 feet into the air. The Hudson also left the ground, climbing right up into the air, then turned over. Both cars were completely wrecked, the beach being strewn with debris, including shattered gears and wheels wrenched completely off.

The occupants of the Dort, Fitzherbert and Mrs Render, and of the Hudson, Messrs Eisenhurt, Molloy, and Moore, lay among the wreckage. At the shocking sight before them several of the spectators fainted. Dr. G. Rix, of Kaitaia, administered first aid on the beach, but nothing could be done for Mrs Spender. In the same race a Chrysler driven by G. Burnett was racing neck and neck with the Dort until the turn at the far end of the beach, marking the half lap, was reached. Here the Chrysler made a bad turn and the engine stalled. This threw it behind the other car, otherwise three cars instead of two might have been involved in the collision.

Mrs Spender leaves a young family of two boys and one girl.  -Nelson Evening Mail,  18/2/1927.

Rawene Cemetery.

NEGLIGENT DRIVING.

A NOMINAL PUNISHMENT.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day. In the Supreme Court the jury found Victor Ferdinand Eisenhut guilty of negligently driving a motor-car and causing the death of Mrs Elizabeth Spencer, of Kaitaia. The jury added a strong recommendation to mercy with which Mr Justice Stringer agreed, when sentencing accused, taking into consideration "that the race meeting on the beach was conducted in a very loose and ineflicient way; that defendant had sustained personal loss by the destruction of his own car, and had sustained personal injury. He had also a good character. Accused was fined £50 and his motor driver’s license cancelled for a period of two years.  -Horowhenua Chronicle, 28/7/1927.