EIGHT INJURED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 259, 19 August 1950, Page 4

EIGHT INJURED

CAR AND TAXI COLLIDE SNOW-COVERED ROAD TIMARU, This Day. Eight persons were injured, three seriously, when a taxi and a private motor-car met in a head-on collision near the Rangitata Island railway station on the Main South Road about 1.30 p.m. yesterday. All the injured persons, who were unconscious or semi-conscious, were admitted to the Timaru Public Hospital about 4 p.m. They were: Dr. Donald George Charles Macdonald, of the Timaru ’Public Hospital, the driver of the car, ’ who suffered a dislocated leg and fractured shoulder blade. Mrs Dorothy Macdonald, his wife, suf fered severe head injuries and is seriously ill. Mrs M. Williams, of the radiological staff of the Public Hospital, suffered concussion and minor lacerations. Carol Ann Macdonald, a daughter of Dr. Macdonald and Mrs Macdonald, suffered shock and minor injuries. Those injured in the taxi were. William Robert Sayer, the driver, aged 35, of Mornington, Dunedin, lacerations; Mrs Sayer, aged about 29, wife of the driver, concussion, sprained ankle, bruises and shock; Mrs Margaret Ann Sayer, aged 67, mother of the driver, fractured • ankle, shock, and a cut finger; John Thomas Kirkwood, aged 63, retired railway employee, of Stuart Street, Balclutha, severe lacerations to the face. The infant son of Mr and Mrs Sayer, aged 11 months, .escaped without injury. Both Dr. Macdonald and Mrs Macdonald were thrown from the car. Dr. Macdonald was found lying unconscious in the snow about 15ft away, near the taxi, and Mrs Macdonald about 26ft away. Valuable assistance was given by the occupants of about 20 cars, who stopped at the scene of the accident and were able to provide rugs and warm clothing for the injured persons, most of whom were found lying in the snow which covered the ground to a depth of about 6in. The owner of a caravan was. able to provide hot drinks for those of the injured who were able to take them and milk for the injured children. “Like Battlefield” The scene of the accident resembled a battlefield, with the injured strewn about in the snow on the side of the road, said Dr. L. C. Mail, of Geraldine, who gave the injured morphia injections and medical attention on the Spot. • The service officer of the Automobile Association (South Canterbury) Mr F. T. Owers said - that the accident was the worst.he had seen in 20 years’; experience. The .assistance given passing motorists had been of great value, he said. Assistance was also given by Constable J. Robertson, of. Geraldine, Constable B. Parkes, of Temuka, and Traffic Inspector D. Cameron, of Timaru. ‘

By 3 o’clock the injured were all placed aboard St. John Ambulances from Geraldine and Timaru for transport to Timaru. Both cars were damaged so extensively that they may be total losses. The contents of the cars, spare wheels, tools and other equipment were strewn about in the snow over a wide area. It took until 5 p.m. to collect the scattered gear. * Dr. Macdonald’s car was travelling north and the taxi travelling south. Word of the accident was supplied by the driver of a Mt. Cook and Southern Lakes Tourist Company’s bus to the stationmaster at Rangitata Island, who telephoned the police and -Dr. Mail.

WOMAN DIES

KNOCKED OVER BY TRUCK (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Aug. 18. A woman was fatally injured when she was knocked down by a truck in Queen Street this evening. She was: Mrs Evelyn Alme Peart, aged 45, wife of, Mr N. F. Peart, of Cornwall Road, Papatoetoe Mrs Peart was crossing Queen Street with her husband when a truck came out of Wyndham Street and turned up Queen Street. The side of the tray of the truck caught her and spun her under the back wheels. The vehicle stopped with the right hand double rear wheels resting on the woman. She was taken in an ambulance to the Auckland Hospital, where she died at 9.25 a.m.

MOTOR-CYCLIST INJURED

(P.A.) WHAKATANE, Aug. 18. Serious head injuries received by a young man, Mr T. Rio, when a motor-cycle he was riding collided with a van in King Street, Whakatane, this morning. A pillion rider, Mr Raymond Walter Hewitt, w T as slightly injured.