TWO MEN KILLED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 133, 17 March 1933, Page 6

TWO MEN KILLED

METHVEN FATALITY. MOTOR-CYCLE HITS LORRY. DRIVER EXPIRES ON ROAD. PILLION RIDER SUCCUMBS TO-DAY. FIRE FOLLOWS COLLISION. Two lives were lost as a result of a violent collision which took place about a rhile from Methyen at 8.45 o'clock last evening, when a motorcycle on which there were two men hit a six-ton motoi-lorry head-on. Fire broke out after the impact and one of the victims was severely burned, his clothes haying to be ripped from his body by bystanders. He expired in a, few minutes. The other man, who was riding on the pillion seat, died in the Ashburton Public Hospital this morning. He, also, suffered badly as a result of burns from the ignited petrol. This is the second double fatality in Ashburton County in the past month. The men killed were:— Christopher Andrew Tait, a single man, aged 26, residing with his mother at Methyen. Stanjey Meldrum, a single man, aged 19, whose parents reside at ltangiora, and who had been working in the Methven district for some time. Tait was driving the motor-cycle along Barker's Road, about a mile from Methven, and going away from the township, and Meldrum was on the pillion seat, when the accident occurred. It was stated that there was no light on the motor-cycle and that the lorry's headlights having failed, it was operating with a single spotlight. It seems that the cyclist steered where he thought he was clear of the approaching vehicle, but he struck it head-on. There was a violent impact and when the petrolin the tank spilled over the hot engine it at once burst into flames and poured out oyer Tait's clothes which were burning fiercely when other travellers came on the scene. It was found to be impossible to extinguish the flames, and the clothes had to be ripped from the unconscious man. He was shockingly injured about the head and body. Meldrum was also in. a serious condition. Pr. D. G, AVallace was soon on the scene* 1 and he ordered the men's removal to the Ashburton Public Hospital. Tait died as he was being lifted into a car that was ready to take him to Ashburton, and the body was brought to the morgue at Ashburton. Meldrum was operated upon as soon as he was admitted to hospital, but his injuries were so severe that he died about 9 o'clock this morning. The lorry involved in the collision is owned by the Methven Transport Company, and was driven by Mr A. Compton.