SYDNEY TRAM SMASH.

Auckland Star, 2 September 1933, Page 12

SYDNEY TRAM SMASH.

DRIVER WHO FAINTED. WILD LEAPS TO SAFETY. Remarkable scenes were witnessed at the intersection of Cleveland and Chalmers Streets, Redfera, about 8.20 a.m. on August 27,, when a runaway Coogee-Eailway tram, the driver of which had collapsed, in his compartment, careered downhill and v crashed with terrific force into the rear of a Clovelly-Railway tram. Ten persons were injured in the smash. Many passengers on both trams, including screaming women, seeing that a collision was imminent, leaped out and rolled on the road among heavy motor traffic. — , The trams telescoped together, and the driver of the runaway car was trapped in his compartment, which was reduced to a mass of tangled steel and ironi shattered woodwork and splintered glass. Conductor Thomas Wilson said afterwards: "I happened to glance ahead, and noticed that the driver had slumped from a sitting position in his compartment, having apparently fainted. At this point the line leads downhill, and as the car gained momentum, with" the motors running full power, I knew a collision was imminent. "I immediately applied the handbrake, and the conductor in charge of the rear car did the same. However, against the power of the motors the handbrakes were ineffective. . "With a crash our tram crashed into the rear of the Clovelly tram, which was approaching the Chalmers Street stop." " Courageous Conductor. Bystanders and passengers paid high tribute to the courage of Conductor R. Butcher, of the Clovelly tram. Realising that the Coogee,driver had lost control, he jumped from his own tram, and running back made heroic efforts to board the runaway. Butcher, however, found himself in a whirl of fast-moving motor cars, and although he dodged in and out of the traffic he was not able to board the runaway because of the terrific speed it had attained. It was his intention to cut qff the electric power from the tram and apply the air brakes. When Butcher jumped from his tram, J. McGawiey, 45, of Clovelly Road, Clovelly, "and J. Thalberg, 38,- also of Clovelly Road, Clovelly, followed him. They escaped injury. . . . ~ George Yeates, who was sitting in tne back seat of the Clovelly tram,' said: "Suddenly there was a shout, 'AH out.' I looked up and saw another tram tearing down the hill toward us, but as fast as I tried to open the door, in my excitement, I seemed to be shutting it. Then came a mighty bump, and we were all thrown together in a heap." Jack O'Connor, of Dolphin Street, Randwick, who was seated in the rear compartment of the Clovelly tram, had a remarkable escape. A large jagged piece of* plate glass whirled past his head, and cut in halves a newspaper he Was reading.