LIGHTS GO OUT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 123, 27 May 1930, Page 10

LIGHTS GO OUT.

NEW PLYMOUTH IN DARKNESS CAB CRASHES INTO POWER POLE. DANGER FROM LIVE WIRES. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) NEW PLYMOUTH, this day. - A motor car struck an electric power pole in Devon Street West at 8.35 last night, wrecking the car, injuring the driver, George Coles, an employee of the Oil Boring Company, putting the town lighting system out of order, and frightening a family in a house opposite where the accident happened. Coles, who comes from Mexico, was taken to hospital by Dr. Gray after he had refrained consciousness. He escaped with numerous cuts from flying windscreen fragments. The car rammed the pole in the centre of the bumper. This and the front axle were bent like horse shoes. Residents in the vicinity were startled by the noise of the crash. Mr. F. Parker, who resides on the bank directly above the post, said he heard a terrific crash and the room was plunged into darkness. The darkness was followed swiftly by a blinding glare and flames seemed to surround the house for several seconds, enabling Mr. Parker to read the paper which was in his hand. Then darkness came again. Rushing outside, he jtist escaped stepping on the live high-voltage wires, which the impact had dissevered. Narrow escapes from electrocution followed when a crowd gathered. A considerable inconvenience was experienced for over an hour in the Post Office, Police Station and other buildings in that particular block.