CAR HITS TRAM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 198, 22 August 1935, Page 20

CAR HITS TRAM.

MOTORIST INJURED.

A large sedan motor car was badly damaged and its driver injured when it crashed into the rear of a stationary train at the corner of Great South Road and Manukau Road shortly after 6.30 on Tuesday evening. The driver of the car was Mr. William Percy Swaffield, aged 36, married, of Rangitoto Road, Papatoetoe.

The car struck the tram with considerable force, causing the door to fly open, and Mr: Swaffield fell on to the road, suffering concussion and scalp wounds. Ho was bleeding freely, and was given first aid treatment by Mr. J. Watson Gumming, of Epsom. He was taken to the Auckland Hospital in a St. John ambulance. His condition is not serious. Mr. Swaffield evidently had a remarkable escape from graver injury, for the car was extensively damaged, the steering wheel being shattered, the chassis twisted and the engine forced back into the driver's compartment.

The force of the collision may bo judged from the fnct that although the brakes of the train were on .it was pushed several feet along the rails. The sound of Jie impact attracted a largo crowd of people, and the outward service was held up for about, half an hour. No damage was done to the tram beyond a denting of the rear fender, and it was able to proceed to its destination.