TWO BUSES IN ACCIDENT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 45, 3 December 1949, Page 4

TWO BUSES IN ACCIDENT

EIGHT PERSONS INJURED

MISHAP ON WEST COAST (P.A.) GREYMOUTH, Dec. 2. Seven young women and a 1 youth were injured when a New Zealand Road Services bus crashed into the rear of another bus, which had stopped to pick up passengers near Kaiata, aoout three miles from Greymouth, this morning. ,

The moving bus was taking workers and school children from Taylorville to Greymouth and though many passengers were flung to the floor or struck their faces against • the rail guards above the seats ahead of them, only four required other than first ’ aid. None was admitted to hospital. According to the passengers, the Taylorville bus was travelling through heavy rain at a normal speed at the time of the accident. It had just crossed a one-way bridge on the bend on the Greymouth side of Kaiata, when it ran into the rear of the Dobson bus, which had stopped to pick up passengers. Some passengers saw an accident would happen and were able to- save themselves ..from injury by holding firmly to the seats ahead, but others were caught unawares. < Those injured were given first-aid treatment by the two bus drivers, Messrs J. Outram, of the Taylorville bus, and W. Anior, of the Dobson bus, male passengers and the driver of a passing motor-truck. Those taken to hospital for treatment were Misses Valerie Menzies, .Betty Walton and Sylvia Magon, all of Taylorville. The youth, Maurice Coates, attended to by Dr. D. M. Logan. Others injured who required only first-aid treatment were Masses Mary Drummond, Pat Senior, P. Walton, Lorna Williams, and Anne McSorley. Nose injuries, cuts to-the face and lips, one black eye and shock covered most of the injuries, all of which were comparatively slight. All but four of the girls were able to attend work. Both buses were full at the time, but only those in the forward seats of the rear bus suffered injuries. The 'Taylorville bus was severely damaged.

The day’s excitement did not end there for the three girls taken to hospital, as the vehicle to wliich they were-transferred after reaching Greymouth caught fire and the girls were bundled out again and continued the journey .to hospital in a passing car.,