SERIOUS MOTOR ACCIDENT.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17706, 7 March 1923, Page 9

SERIOUS MOTOR ACCIDENT.

ON OTIRA ROAD. SEVERAL PEOPLE INJURED. (SPECIAL TO "IDE PBBSS.") GREYMOUTH, March G. A serious accident happened this evening about half a mile from Aicken's, where one of Clements, Ltd.,'a busses, carrying fourteen passengers, by some means left the road, and turned completely over. The following were amongst the passengers: -Mr and Mrs G. A. Perry and child, -Miss MandL-Mrs Pickett, Mr R. Perham, Mr J. A. Murdoch, Mr W. Farrar, Mr and Mrs Eraser (Timaru), Mr Maun, Mr Barraelough, Miss Pickett, and Mr Clements (driver). All went well until naif a mile from Aicken's, where the bus graduallv left the road, and eventually toppled" over, falling about six or seven teet, then turning over. Strange to say, all the HokitiKa people escaped with slight shock except the driver, who received some abrasions on the face, presumably from broken glass from the front

Mr and ilrs Eraser were more unfortunate than the other passengers. The former is believed to be injured internally, whilst Mrs Fraser has one of her legs broken. Miss Pickett was . only one to be pinned under the car, and 'it was only after ilie assistance of those in a passing motor-car was obtained that, the young lady could be extricated from her painful position. Hot leg was badly bruised.

Mr Murdoch immediately sought, medical aid, and the services of the Otira doctor, who arrived by special motor-car, were obtained. After the sufferers had been attended to by the doctor, many willing helpers assisted to bring them to the A.cken's Station, where the Otira express was held up to bring the injured and other passengers on to Greymouth. The ladies who were injured displayed a courageous spirit, as also did the male passengers. Mr and Mrs Fraser were conveyed to the van in stretchers; and on arrival in Greymouth were immediately conveyed in the ambulance to the Hospital. It is thought that Mr Fraser is seriously injured, but the doctor at the present time is unable to supply any definite information until a thorough examination has been made. • Those of the passengers who were not injured did everything possible to alleviate the suffering of their less fortunate companions. Mr Cameron, Railway Traffic Manager, was a passenger on the train from Otira, and did his utmost to see that the injured people received every attention. IPBBSS ASSOCIATION TELEORAM.) ' GiIEYMOUTH, March 6. A car conveying thirteen passengers from tho Christchureh express to Hokitika, ran off the Christchureh road at the bend near Aicken's at 4 p.m., capsizing after falling six feet near a culvert. Mr Fraser (Timaru) had two ribs broken, and his left eye seriously injured, and his wife had a leg broken. Mr Mann (Christchureh) had a shoulder injured. The others escaped unhurt. The Erasers wero brought by the express to the Greymouth Hospital. Apparently the edge of the road crumbled under the ear wheels. The hood of the car, which was smashed, probably prevented several others from being, injured, including an infant and several ladies.