CAR OUT OF CONTROL

Evening Star, Issue 18785, 8 November 1924, Page 10

CAR OUT OF CONTROL

LEAVES MILS AND WRECKS MOTOR. NO SERIOUS INJURIES. [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, November 7. A tramway accident of a sensational nature occurred in the city Ip-night, when a car got out of control in Wellesley street. East Hill, and ran at high speed down the hill. At tho Queen street intersection the tram left the rails, and struck a motor car, which it wrecked. It finally ended its run near tho site of the new civic square. Tho car apparently stopped in Wellesley street to take in passengers, when the ear following ran' into it.. 'Phis put it out of control, and it went off down the hill at high speed. It was extensively damaged when it fetched up on the opposite hill. Two girls named Robinson who were in the tram jumped off. and sustained cuts and abrasions, one of ('hem being detained in hospital. The driver of the motor ear was Mr A. A. Donald, who is suffering from face abrasions and shock. Mrs Donald was also in the motor, and is suffering from a broken left collarbone, injuries to the right hip, and shock. The third occupant of the motor car was Mrs Morloy, who sustained a broken loft collarbone, broken ribs, and injuries to the shoulder. Eye-witnesses describe how the tram careered down the hill with the moforman ringing the gong. The driver of the motor ear was unaware of tho runaway, and could do nothing to get out of the way, as the tram was upon him so suddenly. A report from the hospital states that the condition of all the injured is satisfactory. A MARVELLOUS ESCAPE. [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND. November 8. A description of the perilous situation of the three occupants of the motor car (Mr A. A. Donald, Mrs Donald, and Mrs Morley) was given by Mr Lewis, a motorist, who was one of the first to reach (lie wreckage. AU - Lewis said that, at first glance the three people seemed (n'liave been killed instantaneously. Mr Donald was jammed in the midst of a sheet of metal and was semi-conscious. The wreckage was raised, and. working by the light of an electric torch. Lewis and others extricated Air Donald and laid him on the footpath. Airs Donald and Airs Morloy were lying practically underneath (he splintered platform of the tramenr. One of tho sufferers was moaning, and the rescuers experienced considerable difficulty in extricating her and relieving the pressure of the shattered metal, which threatened to crush lootli women. Air Lewis said he, lifted Mrs Donald from a space in the midst of the wreckage into which a child might hardly have boon expected to crawl. * WORM'S STORY. Daniel Ferguson, moforman on the runaway iramcar, states that after turning (ho corner into Welleslev street east his (ram was struck from behind by a following car. All the lights went out. He used all his brakes, but the car gathered speed and jumped the points at Queen street, and carried in front of it a motor car to the kerb nig. F. U. AA’helan, inot-onnan of the following car. states that when car 83 was a short distance round the corner into Wellesley street it appeared to slow down and 'then sped up again. Getting too close, he applied the emergency brake, but struck the car in front. W. Porteous, conductor of. the runaway car, was on the rear platform, and had one foot caught in the wreckage. He was not released until the car left the rails. The twenty passengers in tho car behaved splendidly for the most part.