UNIVERSITY HEAD

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 149, 21 December 1936, Page 3

UNIVERSITY HEAD

HIT BY FALLING TRUCK

Sir Edwin Deller, Principal of London University, was seriously injured on November 27 by the fall of a truck, weighing a quarter of a ton, at the University's, new buildings in Bloomsbury, says the "Daily Telegraph." (Sir Edwin died later.)

Sir Edwin was in a "very serious" condition in the University College Hospital. There had, however, been some improvement in his condition and he had been X-rayed. He was attended by Viscount Dawson of Perm, the King's physician. At the time of the accident Sir Edwin was inspecting the new building, accompanied by three other men, all of whom were injured by the fall of the truck. The. others were:—

Mr. Harold Claughton, clerk to the Court of the University, who received a depressed fracture of the skull, and was" successfully operated on at hospital. ...■■'• Mr. Norman Williams, the resident engineer, who had head injuries and a broken leg. ' / Mr. Arthur Pelling, the general foreman, who had head injuries'.

A workman, John Lapper, fell on top of the truck, and suffered broken ribs.

Lady Deller, who was at once called to the hospital, remained by 'her husband's bedside until early next morning, when it was stated that he and others injured with him were progressing "as well as could be expected."

The party had entered a hoist preparatory to ascending the partly-com-pleted tower behind the administrative block which is already occupied.

It is stated that the truck, which is used for moving cement and other building material, was pushed along the rails on the floor above. As the hoist was not in position to receive it, the truck fell 20ft down the well on to the heads of the four men below. ■

Lapper, who tried to prevent the iruck falling, uttered a warning cry and fell himself, into, the well.