PANIC-STRICKEN PASSENGERS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 186, 9 May 1928, Page 6

PANIC-STRICKEN PASSENGERS

FULLY-LADEN MOTOR-BUS OVERTURNS

COLLISION WITH MOTORCAR FOUR SERIOUSLY INJURED A fuliydaden motor-bus was overturned at Auckland last night as the result of a collision. Four people were seriously injured, and are in hospital, while others suffered minor hurts. Dominion Special Service. Auckland, May 9. Panic reigned for several minutes when a fully-laden omnibus bound for Te Papapa overturned after colliding with a motor-car at the intersection. of Green Lane and Wheturangi Road this evening. Four women were seriously injured and a dozen other passengers were either severely bruised or gashed by flying glass. The screams of the imprisoned people brought help from houses in both streets, and it at first seemed that several had received fatal injuries. Four serious cases were admitted to Auckland Hospital. They were as follow :— Mrs. E. Sullivan, aged 25,- of Moana Road, Onehunga—Broken nose and other facial injuries.. Mrs. :T. Gerraghty, aged 55, Church St.. Onehunga—Head injuries, fractured skull suspected. Mrs. E. Gavin, aged 31, Horotutu Road —lnjuties to spine and shock. Miss Olive Thompson, aged 19, Tawhiri Road, Onehunga—Shock and internal injuries.

How the Accident Happened. The bus was running its regular outward service to Te Papapa along Wheturangi Road and was being driven by Henry Day, who resides on the garage premises of his employers, Taylor and Son, of Te Papapa. A motor-car driven by George D. Hopkins, salesman, of Mount Hobson Road, was proceeding up Green Lane towards the right-angle corner of Wheturangi Road. There was one passenger in his car. The bus was well across the intersection when the impact occurred. The car swerved to the left and the bus to the right, but neither movement was sufficient to clear the vehicles, and while the wheels of the bus were on full > lock its right-hand front spring met the car on the righthand side. The car spun completely as though on a pivot and came to rest at the side of the road. The bus swayed and crashed over on its left side, the driver and a lady passenger being alone thrown clear without injury. Had the speed of the bus been great the body would have been from the chassis, but the fall splintered wood and glass on the grofind side and hurled the passengers into such a confused heap that the exit was blocked.

Women Almost Crushed to Death. 'Women jammed in the seats and showered with debris screamed for assistance, and in the panic the helpers outside could not at first draw the attention of those

struggling at the back of the vehicle to the emergency exit door. ■ When this was ’finally opened the injured people were lifted out and a cry of agony drew attention to one woman who was buried under the seat r cushions, with' her body jammed near the step of the bus. Efforts to release her failed, and it was found ' that she was being > crushed by the’weight of the bus. Her position was critical, but 'nearly 30 inen put their shoulders to the task, and without mechanical assistance the bus was lifted until the Woman could be extricated from the debris. 1 ' ' The injured people were fortunate in receiving prompt aid from a doctor, and as some person sent a telephone call for the public hospital ambulance, immediately after the crash, no time was lost in removing the injured. The' actual collision caused surprisingly little damage to either vehicle. The dumb-iron of the bus was slightly buckled, and a door panel and the rear door panel and step of the car were crushed. The driver of the car received a gash in the scalp through being thrown against part of the'hood, but his companion escaped, and was able to assist in rendering assistance to the injured.