THREE KILLED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 10, 12 January 1934, Page 7

THREE KILLED.

MOTOR TRAGEDY. COACH AXLE BREAKS. Four Auckland Tourists Involved. ENGINE CATCHES FIRE. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyrlgfit) SYDNEY, January 11. A terrible motoring accident occurred on the main Sydney-Melbourne highway to-day, 13 miles from Gungadai. Three women were killed and six men and three women were injured. The accident occurred through the snapping of the back axle of a motor service coach, which somersaulted and hurled the occupants in all directions. The victims of the accident are:— KILLED. "" Mrs. Percy S. Allen, of Mosman, Sydney. Miss Joan Croft, aged 26, of Auckland. Mrs. Keogh, aged 55, of Elwood, Victoria. INJURED. Mr. Percy S. Allen, husband of Mrs. Allen, who has received head injuries, a dislocated shoulder and severe lacerations. Mr. Enard Clanronald Darroch, of Auckland, concussion, bruises, shock and abrasions. Mrs. Maud Darroch, wife of Mr. Darroch, shock. Miss Winifred Edwards, of Mount Eden Road, Auckland, injured neck muscles, extensive bruises, abrasions and shock. Mr. Max Keogh, aged 26, son of Mrs. Keogh, abrasions and "severe shock. Miss Agnes Davey, of Marrickville, near cuts and abrasions to the legs and arms. Mr. Noel Clarke, of Darlinghurst, Sydney, head injuries. Mr. Charles Sewell, of Canada, injured shoulder and lacerations. Two other passengers, unnamed, escaped with abrasions.' Removed to Hospital. All the injured were removed as quickly as possible to Gungadai Hospital. The latest report from the hospital states that they are all doing well. The coa6h belonged to the Pioneer Tourist Agency, Sydney, and had been en route to Melbourne with tourists since. Saturday, when it was held up by "floods. It was then diverted across country. The. Ram-soaked roads apparently damaged -or strained the axle, causing the accident. Everything was going well when,, about four miles from Tumblong, near Gungadai, a town in New South Wale's, about 85 miles from Albury, on the border of Victoria,, the back axle snapped. The vehicle was travelling at 30 miles an hour. It % somersaulted three times. The occupants were hurled in all directions. Eye-witnesses declare it was a ghastly sight. Each victim was bleeding and helpless. Flames Extinguished. The engine of the coach became, enveloped in flames, but they were promptly subdued by farming families attracted to the scene by the crash and the cries of the injured. Mr. Percy Allen and his wife intended proceeding to Melbourne via the coa'stal road, which, however, was flooded. They transferred to the service coach at Bateman's Bay, which took them across country to the main highway. Mr. Allen's condition is not as serious as was at first thought, and he is expected to make a good recovery. Mrs. Keogh was the wife of a commercial traveller. She is the mother of eight children.

KILLED AND INJURED.

Party of Aucklanders on Holiday. JOURNALIST IN HOSPITAL. Brief particulars of those involved in the tragedy are as follow:— Mr. Percy S. Allen and the late Mrs. Allen were well known in Auckland some 20 years ago, when Mr. Allen was a sub-editor on the staff of the "New Zealand Herald." He joined the staff in 1907 and remained for four years, when he returned to Australia. Mrs. Allen was a member of the Auckland Tennis Club. Miss Joan Croft, aged 26, was a builder, of Shipherds Avenue, Epsom, builder, of Shipherd's Avenue, Epsom, and for several years past had been a teacher at the Tuakan School. She was connected with the St. John Ambulance Association and was a member of the orchestra. At the time of her departure she was' taking a course in first aid'. The other members of her family were on holiday at Castor Bay, where the tragic news of her death had to be conveyed to them last evening. With Miss Croft was her life-long friend Miss Edwarcfs, who was injured. Miss Edwards, the daughter of Mr. and' Mrs. W. J. Edwards, of Mount Eden Road, is a teacher at - the Auckland Business College, Albert" Street. The latest advice received from Miss Edwards indicated that they intended to be in .-Melbourne yesterday. The tourist company Avho issued Miss Edwards' ticket notified her family of the accident by cablegram. The other two Auckland residents involved in the accident were Mr. and Mrs. Enard C. Darroch, of Kowhai Street, Mount Eden. Mr. Darroch is in business as a costumier and dry cleaner at 12, Victoria Street West, City. They left by the Aorangi on Boxing Day for a holiday trip to Australia, and expected to return to Auckland on January 22. Mrs. Darroch is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Roberts, of Bellwood Avenue, Mount Eden. Mr. Darroeh's father, Mr. D. Mackay Darroch, of Waterview Road, Stanley Bay, is well known on the North. Shore as a launch owner.