“A fatal accident occurred on Cable Bay road when a car in which a family party was driving went off the road and capsized down the bank. Five of the seven occupants were admitted to hospital, where one, a member of the New Zealand overseas forces, died of injuries. The victims of the accident were:— 

DEAD Private William Burke, aged 30, who suffered from contusions on the chest, a fractured right arm, and died from asphyxia due to congestion of the lungs. 

INJURED Mr. Robert Kean, aged 62, lacerated scalp wounds and concussion. His condition is serious. Mrs. Christina Kean, aged 60, his wife, face contusions and right leg injured. Her condition is satisfactory. Mrs. Jocelyn Kean, aged 28, lacerated wound on the jaw. Her condition is satisfactory. Bruce Kean, aged 15 months, son of Mrs. Kean, concussion and contusions on the head. His condition is fairly serious.

Two other occupants, R. V. Kean and Miss P. Calnan, both suffered minor inujries.

The car, which was driven by Mr. Kean, sen., rolled over twice before becoming suspended upside down among some trees. The doors were forced open by the rolling car and all the occupants thrown out down the bank below.

Private Burke's parents are both dead and he had no relatives in New Zealand. Private Burke was a well known soccer player. He was captain of the Athletic senior team, which won the Nelson championship, and also a provincial representative.”

GISBORNE HERALD, VOLUME LXVII, ISSUE 20439, 27 DECEMBER 1940, PAGE 10