Two Cyclists Killed In Week-end Accidents

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28323, 8 July 1957, Page 10

Two Cyclists Killed In Week-end Accidents

Two cyclists died after collisions with cars near Christchurch on Saturday evening—the first night of a Transport Department drive to reduce the rising death toll on Canterbury roads. The accidents occurred within ten minutes of each other aS the men were cycling to their homes shortly after nightfall.

The dead men were: Clarence Edward Wendelken,

admitted to hospital at 12.05 a.m. on Sunday after, a collision with a motor-car near the Kaiapoi bridge. He suffered leg injuries and minor lacerations. His condition is satisfactory. Mr Colin Atkinson, of 158 Hoon Hay road, Was admitted to hospital with slight injuries after his power cycle and a car collided at the intersection of CJyde and Riccarton roads. His condition is satisfactory.

aged 51, of Kirwee, and Christopher Desmond Hewison, aged 27. of 192 Springs road.

Mr Wendelken is believed to have been cycling along the Dar-field-Christchurch highway about 6.30 p.m. when he was struck by a car driven by Warick Anthony Batten, aged 25, of the R.N.Z.A.F. Station, Wigram. Mr Wendelken was dragged more than 120 feet along the road, after striking the windscreen of the car, and then thrown on to the opposite traffic lane. Five minutes later, before a doctor arrived to attend to Mr Wendelken, a motorist travelling in the opposite direction, failed to realise that attempts were being made to stop him, and he, too, ran over the injured man, dragging him back along the road 30 feet towards the original site of the accident. *

Mr Desmond Baxter, of 321 Manchester street, and Mr Philip Hughes, of the same address, were both injured when the bicycle on which both were riding was involved in a collision with a car at the intersection of Manchester street and Oxford terrace. Both were admitted to hospital with slight injuries. Mr Hughes was later discharged. Mr Baxter’s condition is satisfactory. Mr William Streeter was admitted to hospital with minor injuries after he was struck by a motorcar while cycling along Yaldhurst road shortly before 7 p.m. on Saturday. His condition is satisfactory. Car in River Miss Elizabeth Johnston, of 10 Cranmer square, suffered slight injuries when a car in which she was a passenger failed to negotiate a corner and overturned into the Avon river near the intersection of Kilmore street and Oxford terrace. She was admitted to hospital shortly after the accident, which occurred about 1 a.m. on Saturday. The car was driven, by Mr R. T. Wardell, a farmer, of Lincoln. Still Seriously 11l

It is thought Mr Wendelken was dead after the first impact. He was taken to hospital by ambulance.

The first car which struck him was extensively damaged about the bonnet and windscreen. Springs road Accident Mr Hewison was about to mount his cycle in Springs road about 6.20 p.m. when he was struck by a car travelling north alcmg-the road. He to hospital with and died at 1.15 p.m. yesterday.

The car was driven by Gerald Robert McGown, aged 28, of 77 Neill street, Sockburn. Other Accidents As well as these two deaths resulting from collisions involving cars and cycles, five other accidents were reported during the week-end. One person was injured as a result of a car accident, a pedestrian was struck by a car near the city, and a motor cyclist was injured in a collision with a truck.

Miss, Marian Addinell, who was injured when she was involved in a car accident near West Eyre ton on Thursday was still on the seriously ill list at the Christchurch Public Hospital last evening.

TWO KILLED, THREE INJURED Truck Plunges Into Stream

Mr Bridge, of 16 Conference street, was admitted to hospital at 12.25 a.m. on Sunday after being struck by a motor car at the corner of Moorhouse avenue and Ferry road. He suffered head injuries. Last night his condition was described as fair. John Wain, a motor-cyclist, was

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, July 7. A man and his son died and three other persons were injured when the truck they were in broke through the side of a bridge at Lower Retaruke, about 30 miles from Taumarunui. and plunged 50 feet into a creek at 6.45 p.m. yesterday. The two dead are:— Laurence Voudin Le Gros, aged 31, truck driver, of Taumarunui. Raymond Le Gros, aged 8, son of Mr Le Gros.

Mr Le Gros, who was driving the truck, was pinned under the cab for about two hours. A passenger, Mr E. V. Hayes, who was himself injured in the head, managed to hold Mr Le Gros’ head above water for a time, but he later died.

Raymond’s body was recovered fom the creek by a constable at 5 p.m. today a short distance from the crashed truck. Mr Hayes and his 10-year-old son Evan, who was suffering from minor injuries and shock, were taken to Taumarunui Hospital. Mrs Jill Le Gros, wife of Mr Le Gros, was also taken to hospital with injuries to her back and shock. The other passengers in the truck, Miss I. Hayes, and two other sons of Mr Le Gros were not injured.

CHILD FATALLY BURNED Nightdress Catches On Fire

(New Zealand Press Association) INVERCARGILL, July 7. ‘

A child died in Gore Hospital at 9.50 this morning from burns received when her nightdress caught fire in the sitting room of her home last night. She was Judith Ann Gibson, aged five and ' a half, daughter of Mr and Mrs Earl S. Gibson, of Brydone.

The child was reaching up towards the mantelpiece when her nightdress, made of flannelette, caught alight. At the time of the accident, the parents were in Invercargill attending a dancing competition at the winter show. Judith had been left ih the care of Mr and Mrs Earl’s eldest daughter, who is 14.

When the child’s nightdress caught alight, she ran outside, and a neighbour wrapped a coat around her to smother the flames. An inquest, opened before the Coroner (Mr D. Russell) at Gore this afternoon, was adjourned.

LANDING GLIDER

KILLS MAN

(From Our Own Reporter) TIMARU, July 7.

A man was killed by a glider landing at Hilderthorpe airport, a few miles north of Oamaru on Saturday afternoon: He was: Reginald Percell Hunter-Weston, aged 53, of 9 Kitchener square, Timaru.

Mr Hunter-Weston, who was a member of the South Canterbury Gliding Club, was walking on the runway at 5 p.m. during a gliding display at the airport when he was struck on the back of the neck by a wing of a glider which was coming in to land. He died at 5.30 p.m. The glider was piloted by Mr R. M. Wilmott of the Levels, Timaru. With him in the aircraft was the club’s chief instructor, Mr N. Milne.

Mr Hunter-Weston was president of the Timaru Model. Aeroplane Club for several years and had only recently begun to take an interest in gliding. An inquest was opened in Oamaru today and was adjourned sine die after evidence of identification had been heard.