LUCKY ESCAPE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 92, 28 January 1928, Page 6

LUCKY ESCAPE

FIREMAN THROWN FROM ENGINE COLLISION WITH A TAXI. <'''■'<■ Association.) WELLINGTON, January 27. A sensational collision between a fire engine speeding to an outbreak in Sydney Street, a taxi-cab occurred this afternoon outside, the entrance to the Queen’s Wharf.' In endeavouring to avert a collision the driver of the fire engine swerved sharply to the right with the result that the vehicle capsized on to the taxi-cab. The firemen seated at the back of the engine were all thrown clear and escaped injury, with the exception of Fireman J. Pliilp, who was thrown on to his head. Driver Petherick and Mr A. W. Leadbrook (officer in charge of the engine) had a miraculous escape from serious injury. They were thrown from the front seat and were crushed between the engine and the taxi. Spectators had to lift the engine hack on to its wheels before the two men were liberated. Neither suffered anything more serious than bruises and cuts.-

The traffic officer on duty outside the wharf gates was fortunate in being able to avoid, the engine. He jumped out of the way just as the engine crossed the control platform. The taxi was not damaged to any great extent, but damage amounting to £2O was done to the engine, the front near wheel being smashed and the mudguards on the near side buckled. Tivo women passengers in the taxi and the driver were liot hurt. The outbreak to which the engine was travelling was found to be in some gorse. A second engine attended the blaze.