POLICE CAR IN COLLISION

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28251, 12 April 1957, Page 12

POLICE CAR IN COLLISION

Man Seriously Injured

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. April 11. , A police patrol car carrying the Controller-General of Police (Mr S T. Barnett) collided with a private car at the intersection of Khyber Pass road and Mountain road at 7.45 p.m. today. The driver of the private car. Richard Airey, aged 48, married, a company director, of 28 Trafalgar street, Onehunga, was admitted to the Auckland Public Hospital with a fractured skull. His condition late tonight was serious. Mr Barnett, who is believed to have been the only passenger in the police car, went to the casualty department of the Auckland Public Hospital to be treated for a cut on the head. At a late hour the name of the driver of the police car had not been given to the press. Mr Airey’s small car ended half-way through the plate-glass window of Heat and Air Control. Ltd., engineers’ suppliers, Khyber Pass road. The front and left side of the vehicle were badly damaged The police car ran into a traffic light standard, which was left leaning at a sharp angle, with the badly-damaged police car against it. Witnesses said that Mr Airey’s car was travelling toward the traffic lights along Mountain road to the city when the police car appeared travelling down Khyber Pass road toward Newmarket. It appeared to be chasing a third car.

The police car was one of a new fleet of vehicles which are -gradually replacing the present fleet. They have been specially equipped for police work. INJURED MAN DIES Second Victim Of Mt. Grey Accident A man died in the Christchurch Public Hospital yesterday morrv ing after being seriously injured in a motor accident in the Mount Grey district, 36 miles from Rangiora, last Sunday. He was: Ronald Derek Clinch, aged 25, single, of 57 Peverel street, Riccarton. An inquest into Mr Clinch’s death was opened yesterday before the Coroner (Mr E. B. E. Taylor) and adjourned sine die after evidence of identification has been given. This is the second death as the result of the accident, which occurred when a car driven by Mr R. J. Beswick, of 40 Division street, Riccarton. skidded in shingle on Ram Padaock road, while turning a corner and, leaving the road, plunged down a 200 ft bank. A passenger in the car, Mr Alan James Steele, aged 28, of 121 Fendalton road, killed when he was thrown out of the car, which rolled over him. Mr Beswick and one other passenger, Mrs Joyce Olive Pratt, of 106 Fantham street Wellington, were admitted to the Christchurch Public Hospital. Their condition is satisfactory.

Cyclist Killed On Main Highway (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. April 11. A cyclist was killed instantly in a collision with a large truck on the Great South road at Manure wa at 4.30 p.m. today. He was: James Cairns, aged 67, single, a retired Post and Telegraph Department employee, of Alfnston road, Manurewa.