VICTIMS OF CRASH

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 237, 6 October 1945, Page 7

VICTIMS OF CRASH

TWO KILLED; NUMBER HURT

THE HUTT VALLEY ACCIDENT P.A. WELLINGTON, Friday. The victims of the accident in the Belmont area, west of the Hutt Valley, involving 20 men from the Trentham Army ordnance depot, were as follows:— Killed Private R. Cameron, of Wellington, died of injuries in hospital. Lance-Corporal T. R. Beach, of Nelson. Injured Corporal N. A. Prier, driver of the truck, of Shannon; back injuries, condition serious. Sergeant T. A. B. Claridge, of Levin; shock and head injuries. Corporal W. M. Hugh, of Kilbirnie. Wellington; broken ribs. Corporal J. R. Parker, of Hawera. Private N. F. Bond, of Dunedin. Private V. E. T. Nicholas, of Hastings. Private R. J. Willis, of Patea. Private C. C. Rankin, address unknown. The following were taken to the Trentham Military Hospital for observation: —Sergeant J. A. Pinkam (Christchurch), Sergeant E. C. S. Ellery (Wellington), Corporal H. W. Dillon (Hunterville), Corporal A. R Mansfield (Wellington), Lance-Cor-poral T. George (Ohau), Privates F. A. Ellis (Lower Hutt), G. H. Clough (New Plym*uth), and J. A. Hockly (Ashhurst). It is expected that alleight will be discharged by tomorrow. The truck, with the driver and another in the cab, was proceeding up a hill this morning, and when passing a taxi drawn up on the inner bank on the left road it crashed through thick undergrowth and bush to the bed of a stream 400 feet below. . The soldiers who received only minor injuries had miraculous escapes. The canvas canopy of the back of the truck was crushed and broken in the headlong descent, but the vehicle's high sides largely protected the men. Ambulances, both civilian' and Army, were called immediately by the taxi driver and rescue work was begun.