MAN KILLED

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 62, 10 September 1937, Page 10

MAN KILLED

ACCIDENT ON BRIDGE

THREE OTHERS INJURED

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, September D.

One man was killed and three injured when part of the scaffolding of a bridge on which they were working near Springfield collapsed this afternoon. Another man escaped by gaining a hold of the bridge. Those involved were:—Killed.—John Owen Macer, aged about 60, married, Timaru. Injured.—William Laurence Stoddart, aged 32, married, 176 Durham Street, Christchurch, compound fracture of the left arm and fractured ribs. His condition is satisfactory. Albert Samuel Crewe, aged 38, married, 64 Keppel Street, New Brighton, fractured arm and ribs, concussion. His condition is satisfactory. Eric Austin, aged 27, single, Darfield, fractured nose and tibula and abrasions. His condition is satisfactory.

The accident occurred at about 1.15 p.m. at a bridge crossing the Kowliai River, about a mile and a half past Springfield, on the West Coast side. The beam supporting planking on which the men were standing broke, and four of them fell about 40 feet on to dry shingle, the fifth saving himself by seizing part of the bridge as he fell. The four men were'taken to Springfield by train, and were attended by Dr. C. E. Reid, Darfield, but Macer died almost immediately on arrival. He suffered a fractured leg and his skull is also thought to have been fractured.

A St. John ambulance took the injured men to the Christchurch Public Hospital, where they were, reported to be in' a satisfactory condition this evening. ■ , All the men were employees of the Railway Department. The bridge, which is reserved for rail traffic, was being reinforced, and the work is still proceeding. It is thought that cross grain in the beam may have caused the accident. ■ An inquest into Macer s death wm be opened tomorrow. '