Paraplegic Driver Missing in Crash Mystery
New South Wales (Australia):
Police are searching rugged bushland for a paraplegic man whose car and wheelchair were found at the bottom of a 10-metre ravine in a northern NSW national park.
The 36-year-old Kingscliff man's Subaru Outback four-wheel-drive was discovered by a field officer at the Border Ranges National Park, 60 kilometres north-west of Lismore, yesterday. It was on its roof at the base of a steep ravine.
However, the man, who was reported missing by his family four days ago, was nowhere to be seen.
"Our fellow walked down to see if anyone was in the car and to get a registration number. [But] he couldn't see anybody," park ranger Steve King said.
"There was a lot of debris strewn around the crash site when it came to rest," he said.
Mr King said the man had been travelling along the Tweed Range Scenic Drive - a popular tourist route that heads towards Mount Warning.
"It is a steep section of gravel road with a steep drop off beside the road," he said.
A police rescue team later abseiled to the car but found only the man's wheelchair. A crane was used to pull the car from the ravine.
Police said the man's family were concerned for his safety because he had no medication or medical equipment to assist with his disability.
He is described as having blonde medium length hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt with black Indian motif and long black pants.
Sept 28, 2005 -
Jano Gibson, Sydney Morning Herald , Australia
New South Wales (Australia):
Police are searching rugged bushland for a paraplegic man whose car and wheelchair were found at the bottom of a 10-metre ravine in a northern NSW national park.
The 36-year-old Kingscliff man's Subaru Outback four-wheel-drive was discovered by a field officer at the Border Ranges National Park, 60 kilometres north-west of Lismore, yesterday. It was on its roof at the base of a steep ravine.
However, the man, who was reported missing by his family four days ago, was nowhere to be seen.
"Our fellow walked down to see if anyone was in the car and to get a registration number. [But] he couldn't see anybody," park ranger Steve King said.
"There was a lot of debris strewn around the crash site when it came to rest," he said.
Mr King said the man had been travelling along the Tweed Range Scenic Drive - a popular tourist route that heads towards Mount Warning.
"It is a steep section of gravel road with a steep drop off beside the road," he said.
A police rescue team later abseiled to the car but found only the man's wheelchair. A crane was used to pull the car from the ravine.
Police said the man's family were concerned for his safety because he had no medication or medical equipment to assist with his disability.
He is described as having blonde medium length hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt with black Indian motif and long black pants.
Sept 28, 2005 -
Jano Gibson, Sydney Morning Herald , Australia
