COLLISION AT MT. SOMERS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23880, 24 February 1943, Page 4

COLLISION AT MT. SOMERS

MOTORIST DIES FROM INJURIES A motorist received injuries from which he died, and three passengers received shock and abrasions, when a collision between a motor-car and a lorry occurred at Mount Somers shortly after 4 o'clock on Monday afternoon. The victims were;— DEAD William James Johnstone, aged 44 year?, of Springburn. a carpenter employed by the Public Works Department. INJURED Olive Hope Johnstone, aged 38 years. wife of the above. Esther E. Burrows, aged 49 years. Stewart Johnstone, aged 10 months, son of W. J. Johnstone.

The injured persons wore admitted to the Ashburton Public Hospital, and their conditions yesterday were reported to be satisfactory Two other passengers, the sons ol Mr and Mrs Johnstone, escaped injury.

The other vehicle involved in the accident was a lorry driven by Harold James Lilley. of Mayfield, an employee of Mid-Canterbury Transport. Ltd.

The accident occurred at the vicarage corner at Mount Somers, the car driven by Johnstone going west along the Ashburton Gorge road and the lorry, driven by Lilley, travelling south to Mayfield at the time. There is a plantation of high trees on the side of the corner from which Johnstone was approaching. The lorry was loaded with about six tons of lime when it was struck by the car, and in an endeavour to avoid the accident the driver of the lorry swerved off the road across a watercourse. The chassis of the? lorry was * almost broken in half.

All the injured persons were seated in the enclosed section of the car. and the two boys, who escaped unscathed, were travelling in the dickey' seat at the back, Johnstone died from his injuries while he was being taken to Ashburton by ambulance.

An inquest for the purpose of identification, at which evidence was given by David William Herron, was opened at Ashburton yesterday, and was adjourned.