TRAM LEAVES RAILS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18923, 11 February 1927, Page 8

TRAM LEAVES RAILS.

PASSENGERS' LUCKY ESCAPE. [THB PEESB Special aetvico.] AUCKLAND, February 10. A sensational accident involving extensive uumuge to a tramcar, but fortunately not attended by loss of iite 4 occurred At the junction of Jervois roaa and Seymour street, I'oiiionby, last evening. Two coupled single bogey trams of the old-fashioned type were proceeding down Jervois load when the rear car ran olf the rails and swerved to the left still attached to the front car. It crossed tile rails near Seymour street and after travelling about 40 yurds, crashed into a centre pole. llichard Carter, conductor of the rear car, was thrown on to the road, sustaining abrasions of the hand. He also suiiered from shock, but after treatment at a house nearby was able to proceed home. The force ol the impact uot only smashed the whole of the front portion of the car but also caused the preceding' car to become disconnected; As a result of this, Richard Ulaekburn, the motorman, was unable to control the car, which, still drawing portion of the front platform of the rear car, continued for some distance along the load before coming to a halt. Although no one was injured, three passengers in the damaged car suffered considerably from shock. There were about a dozen people in the first car. Through the collision the centre pole was knocked about 3 feet out of alignment and most of the brackets and overhead wires were damaged and tangled. A considerable congestion of traffic occurred after the accident. It was almost half an hour before the disabled tram was replaced on the rails nnd towed to the Ponsonby barn, and the line made clear for waiting cars.