STARTLING COLLISION.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13104, 1 May 1908, Page 7

STARTLING COLLISION.

ELEXTEEUO CAR, AiND CHAFF WAuGON. . MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. One of the most startling collisions yet a-coorded in connection -with- the electric tramway system of Chiristchtiirch occurred on the Riccarton Eno early last evening. A combination car, which left Church Corner, Riccarton, et 6.10 p.m., crashed into the rear of a heavy waggon., which was being drawn in tho direction of the city by a faction engine. Tho front of the oar was crushed in and aibeolutely smashed;, but the niotornum, J. Thompsont, miraculously escaped injury. There were several passengers on the car, but, beyond a shaking aaud! the shock inseparable from such an occurrence, they also escaped scatheless.

The tram was s<fm<o little distance past Dcans's Bush, and coming towards town, when the collision occurred. The night was dark, and a fog made it difficult for the motorm&ni to see any distance in front, the white light of the headlight not penetrating tho mist deeply. The traction engine, according to statements made, was travelling on the tramway track, andi was drawing two heavy waggons laden with chaff. It is stated that the engine did not carry a headlight, and that there was no light showing at the roar. The motorman did not soe the obstruction until the tram was practically within a few yards of it, and he had no chance of doing anything to minimise the violence of the impact, though in a flash lie had brought the reversing gear into operation. The tram, travelling at the rate of sixteen miles an hour, struck the waggon with a ehivering crash, which was accompanied by the splintering of glass and rending of iron and woodwork. The passengers, who hurriedly alighted, were immensely relieved to sco the motorman step apparently from the centre of the wreck, shaken, but unharmed. The traction-engine kept on its way after the collision, and finally turned down a side street. The identity of the driver or owner was not discovered, but no doubt steps will be taken to-day to get information on this, point.

It was remarked that the electric contact was not broken by tho impact, and the lights kept burning brightly after the collision. Tho running gear waa undamaged, and the motorman operating at tho back end of tho tram brought it into the depot. Tho occurrence, which was as unpleasant as it was exciting, occasioned somo strong remarks from the passengers, who expressed their fervent liopo that steps would be taken to prevent the possibility of such another mishap hapoening through the presence on the road of heav.y vehicles not carrying lights.