Ten Hurt When Car Hits Pole

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30678, 18 February 1965, Page 1

Ten Hurt When Car Hits Pole

A husband and wife, their seven children and another child, were injured when their car hit a pole near the corner of Highsted and Sawyers Arms roads last evening.

All 10 were taken to the Christchurch Public Hospital in two St. John ambulances. All suffered cuts and lacerations, particularly about the head and face.

Those injured are Mr Ronald Francis Tait and Mrs Freda Tait, of 33 Morrison avenue; their children, Trevor, William, Josephine, Kenneth, Raymond, Warren ind Jennifer, and Patricia Rutledge, of Oakland avenue, who is staying with the amily. Mrs Tait, Josephine and William were admitted to hospital. Josephine’s condition was later reported to be fair. She had recovered consciousness.

The others were still in the casualty department at 10 p.m., and it was probable that some of the other children would be admitted to hospital for the night at least. Trevor Tait, aged 14, was the oldest of the children in the car.

Mr Tait was driving along Sawyers Arms road about 6.40 p.m. and swerved to avoid another car at the Highsted road intersection. His car became out of control and hit a pole.

The car was severely damaged at the front, and all the occupants were thrown violently forward. A doctor was on the scene almost immediately.

All the children had been taken from the wrecked car when the ambulance arrived,

and had been laid down on the roadside. Mr Tait, a council employee, suffered a severe gash on his forehead. He was able to get out of the car by himself. He was more worried about his wife's and the children's condition than himself.

Mrs Tait was thrown from the front seat under the dashboard and had to be extricated from the car by ambulance men.

Extra casualty surgeons were called on duty at the hospital. Most of those injured had stitches inserted in cuts. One of the boys suffered a broken nose. Mrs Tait's condition was later reported to be satisfactory. Trevor was also admitted to hospital. His condition is satisfactory.