HOLIDAY CASUALTIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 December 1934, Page 5

HOLIDAY CASUALTIES

CAR CRASHES INTO CROWD AUCKLAND SHOPPERS INJURED [PEB PBESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, December 25. At least nine people'are known to have been injured, two of them seriously, in Karangahape Road last night, when a large motor car mount[ed the kerb and crashed into a crowd on the pavement. In addition, it is Relieved that there were a number of pedestrians who suffered injury, but were able to go to their homes without receiving immediate attention. The victims of the accident were: — Mrs Rose Morrison, aged 37, of Grey Lynn, who sustained internal injuries and shock, her condition being serious. Mrs Maria Ecclestone, aged 42, of Grey Lynn, who suffered a compound fracture to her left leg and shock, her condition also being serious.

Hugh Boston, aged 55, of Freeman’s Bay,, leg injuries and shock. Ernest Leary, aged 47, of Mt. Albert, head injuries and shock. Mrs Eunice Leary, of Mt. Albert, a fractured left shoulder and abrasions. Allan Leary, aged 8, of Mt. Albert, abrasions and a sprained left ankle. Thomas Ecclestone, of Grey Lynn, injury to an ankle. Master Stanley Roberts, of Ponsonby, abrasions to the back of his legs and arms. William Mudford, aged 43, of Newton, a. cut on the right ankle. The first four victims were admitted to the hospital, while the others were able to go to their homes, after receiving treatment. The motor car, which was driven by Mr James Killen, of Matangi, near Cambridge, who was accompanied by five passengers, had been parked on an angle, and it was when the engine was being restarted that the car suddenly mounted the kerb before Mr Killen could regain control of it. The car travelled across the pavement, and, after knocking three youths through a. plate glass window in the entrance to Flackson’s Limited shop, it continued for about fifteen yards along the pavement. At the time of the accident, the footpath was packed with people doing Christmas shopping. Amid cries, mingled with shouting, pedestrians were thrown to right and left, the scene being one of the utmost confusion. None of the occupants of the car were injured.

WOMAN DIES AUCKLAND, December 26. Mrs. Rose Morrison, 37, died in hospital at 1.30 to-day. The condition of Hugh Boston and Ernest Leary this morning was very serious, and that of Mrs. Ecclestone fairly serious. HOPE SADDLE VICTIMS. NELSON, December 26. A service car owned by Spiers’ Motors, returning to Murchison early on Christmas morning, went off the road on the Hope Saddle at 3 a.m., resulting in the deaths of two passengers, while three others were admitted to hospital. The dead are: Phyllis Merle Kite, 19 years, of Lake Rotoroa, died of injuries before admission to the hospital. . George McKay, of Murchison, died from spinal injuries, last evening. The injured are: Ernest Stewart, of Murchison, fractured collarbone; Gordon Baker, of Howard, concussion; Leslie Stewart, of Murchison, bruises and shock. All are progressing satisfactorily. The deceased, McKay, had relatives at Tapanui. CROSSING COLLISION. AUCKLAND, December 25. A collision between a special express from Wellington and a light van occurred shortly after 11 a.m. yesterday. about a mile north of Ngaruawahia. The driver of the van, William James Shaw, a radio salesman, aged 22, of Huntly, received severe head injuries. The van, which was owned by the Huntly Radio Coy., w r as crossing the railway line at what is known as Wallbanks Crossing, leading from a property on one side of the line to the Main South Road on the other side, when it was struck by the engine, and was carried a short distance down the line. The van was extensively damaged. The injured man was picked up by the train crew, and was taken on to Huntly. His condition was fairly serious. An operation was performed, and he is reported to be progressing satisfactorily.

MAN DROWNED. MASTERTON, December 25. Ronald De Laney, aged 24, single, employed by W. Caspin, farmer, of Waehakeke, went Swimming in the river on Sunday, and did not return. His body was found this morning in a hole. A verdict of death by drowning was returned at the inquest. THREE MEN KILLED. GORE December 25. A motor accident resulting in ihe deaths of three men occurred near Rae’s Junction, about 50 miles from Gore. Though it happened on Thursday, the bodies were not discovered till’Saturday. The deceased were: — Andrew Aitken, garage managei, Gore aged 50; W. Stiven, farm labourer, 60, Edievale; Wm. McPherson Moore. 40, single, traveller, employed by Auckland Tobacco Manufacturing Co., Auckland. The deceased were proceeding from Rae’s Junction to Beaumont in a new six-cylinder sedan car, which Aitken had taken from Gore that morning, apparently with the intention of selling to Moore. • About 15 miles from Rae’s Junction, the car about 5 p.m. went over the side of the road and fell 200 feet down a steep hillside to a gully. Owing to the non-return of Aitken by noon on Saturday inquiries were set on foot and Charles Benjamin Gallop, publican, of Rae’s Junction (at whose hotel the three deceased called between 4.30 and 5 o’clock) set out with two others, iney found the fence broken on the side of the road and later saw the car in the gully. Scrambling down the hillside, they reached the car, which was badly damaged, and found the bodies half a chain away. All had their necks broken and other injuries. •The police were notified and the bod-

ies were conveyed to Rae’s where an inquest was held. A doctor gave evidence as to instantaneous death and the verdict was one of accidental death. Although the car left Gore with Aitken, as driver, it is surmised that Moore was later at the vheel. The car was"in perfect mechanical condition, and even after the accident, the brakes and steering gear were in good order. FATAL BURNS. ASHBURTON, December 26. Norman Scrimgeour, 21. single, who was badlv burnt about the body on December 1, died in the hospital yesterday. . Ho was a mechanic, employed by Hardy Carter, contractor, and was cleaning the magneto of a lorry, when the petrol in the tin he was using, burst into flames. TAXI AND CAR COLLIDE CHRISTCHURCH. December 26. As the result of a collision in Tuam Street on Christmas Eve, between a taxi and a private car, four men were injured, the most severe being J. Lowe, of Riccarton, who is in the hospital with head injuries. He is recovering. The three others were treated as outpatients. Lowe was in the taxi on the side where the impact occurred. The car was pushed across the'road, and a door was smashed. BOY’S’FATAL DRINK. BRISBANE, December 26. A boy aged four, obtaining possession of a. bottle of rum on Christmas morning, complained of severe pains after drinking some of the contents. Later, lie died in the hospital.