ONE KILLED, 28 INJURED

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23973, 14 June 1943, Page 4

ONE KILLED, 28 INJURED

Tramcar Overturns At Wellington MANY ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL (P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 13. Resulting in the death of an airman and injuries to 28 other people, one of the worst tramway accidents in the history of Wellington occurred at the intersection of Coutts street and Onepu road, Kilbirnie. shortly after 7 o’clock on Saturday evening, when a heavily-laden tramcar, proceeding toward the centre of the city, left the rails and crashed on its side. The dead man was: LEADING AIRCRAFTSMAN JAMES EDWARD KERR, R.N.Z.A.F., whose parents live at 197 Talbot • street, Geraldine. Leading Aircraftsman Kerr, who was 27. died shortly after admission to the Wellington Public Hospital. His injuries included a fractured base of the skull and laceration of the brain. The injured admitted to the Wellington Public Hospital were:— Miss C. Anderson, R.N.Z.A.F,, suspected fractured jaw. Mrs Ayres, 377 Karaka Bay road, fractured arm. Miss Jean Luxford. 45 Mantell street, injuries to back. Donald McLean, motorman, 65 Kelburn parade, head injuries. F. Ratcliffe, 52 Bridge street, injury to shoulder. Mrs Ratcliffe, 52 Bridge street, suspected fractured ribs and concussion. Miss Betty Smith, 7 Gaudm street, suspected fractured leg and abrasions. Jack Smith, 7 Gaudin street, fractured pelvis and wrist. Frederick Such, 37 Breaker Bay road, incised head wound. Miss Betty Tait, 60 Hector street, injuries to back. Sergeant* Frank Butler, R.N.Z.A.F., fractured rib and injury to liver and pneumothorax —condition senious. Admitted to hospital at an air station— Aircraftsman J. R. Bridgcman, shock. Corporal B. J. Child, shock. . Pilot Officer T. R. Paul, head injury and fractured left clavicle. Treated at public hospital or elsewhere and returned to their homes: — George Carr, 44 Bridge street, injury to head. „ „ A Morris Eiliott, aged 12, 64 Hector street, incisions to hands and hip. Raymond Elliott, aged 14, same address, nose injury. Mrs Mihail, 31 Ventnor street, shock. Master Mihail, same address, cuts to hands, „ , , R. E. Roberts, R.N.Z.A.F., shock. Stafford Robinson, 47 Falkirk avenue, injuries not stated. Miss Clare Ryan. 31 Monorgan road, incised scalp wound. Alfred Shilling, 34 Ferry street, broken clavicle. , . . Mrs Frank Tait, 60 Hector street, incised wound on forehead. Mrs Wheton, 14 Hector street, head injuries, , Miss June Wilson, 171 Marine parade. abrasion to head. Mrs Wyndrum, 27 Breaker Bay road, injuries not stated. The tramcar concerned was fully laden with passengers from the Seatoun and Miramar districts and was on its way to town. From the descriptions of eye-witnesses it would appear that the front bogie of the tramcar, instead of proceeding straight on across the intersection as the tram was routed, began to take the turn righthanded northward into Onepu road. The rear bogie, however, seems to have taken the intended course across the intersection, with the result that the wheels of both bogies left the rails and the tramcar developed a skid sidewavs with the tail swinging round past the front, finishing its movement by crashing over upon what had originally been its near side on the pavem Having swung round in its skid, the tramcar fell on the side on which the doors were open, so that it was, for a time, not possible for those who rushed to the scene to reach those injured and trapped inside, many of whom were screaming for help. Men clambered on top of the tramcar and broke in windows. They immediately began to lift out the injured and uninjured, Almost simultaneously a rescuer obtained an axe and- broke in the window at the conductor’s end, affording an opening through which badlywounded cases could be brought out. The injured were treated in a nearby chemist's shop. Calls for assistance sent out immediately the accident occurred were swiftly answered, and it was not long before doctors and ambulances appeared. Three of the staff of the public hospital were dispatched to the scene and doctors came from an aerodrome and private homes nearby. The more seriously injured were got away to hospitals speedily and others were transported in private cars. At the hospital all was ready for their reception. Directly news of the accident was received, extra nurses to assist in the casualty reception ward were called back from their off-duty period, as were extra porters to handle the cases as received. A number of doctors were calle'’ in from outside to assist the regular staff. Blood donors were also held m readiness.

A large crowd gathered at the scene of the accident and, until the arrival of police and traffic officials. E.P.S. personnel took control. The City Tramways Department soon gathered a team of men to shift the damaged car. It was a difficult job as the bogies had to be removed separately, and a considerable amount of undergear had to be moved before the body could be lifted and dragged away. The work of clearing was not completed till about 4 o’clock this morning,