RUNAWAY TRAM

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 100, 30 April 1945, Page 3

RUNAWAY TRAM

FIVE PEOPLE INJURED

TWO IN HOSPITAL.

Five people were injured when a city-bound tramcar got put of control while descending Parnell Rise and collided with another stationary car outside Carlaw Park at 4.40 on Saturday afternoon. Two of the victims were admitted to the Auckland Hospital. Those admitted were Mr. Paul Richardson, aged 63, married, tramway inspector, of 1798, Great North Road, Avondale, suffering from concussion and abrasions, and Corporal Lionel John Crump, aged 40, married, of 15, Bradford Street, Parnell, who sustained a fracture of the left kriee.

Treatment at the casualty department was given to Miss Carol Kelly, tram conductress, of Grafton, who suffered shock; Mr. A. E. Mitchell, of 129, Buchanan Street, Glenmore, slight concussion; and Mr. John Lee, aged 35, married, tram motorman, of 10, Claude Road, Epsom, lacerations to the right ankle. " Mr. Richardson and Corporal Crump were reported to-day to be not in a serious condition. Mr. Richardson was standing on the roadway and was struck by a piece of flying wreckage. Corporal Crump was a passenger in the runaway tram.

In a statement this morning, Mr Lee, the motorman of the tram which got out of control, said that his tram had about half a dozen passengers in it. He paused at the top of the hill and put on all brakes. As he got down the hill the car seemed to "drjft away" owing to the greasy nature of the track opposite the entrance to the Rehabilitation Centre. The car travelled at a slow pace towards the other tram, which was parked outside the entrance to Carlaw Park. When about 30 feet away, Mr. Lee reversed the power, but this did not have the desired effect and, in fact, accelerated the car's speed. He was still trying to work the controls when it smashed into the tram in front. He did not attempt to jymp clear.