WEEK-END ACCIDENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 May 1936, Page 7

WEEK-END ACCIDENTS

’PLANE STRIKES CAR TWO PRESSMEN INJURED [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, May 3. Flying Officer F. Truman landed his Air Force Avro aeroplane at Wigram Aerodrome this afternoon without one of its landing wheels, and w’ithout part of his left tail plane. These he had lost at the new aerodrome at Mt. Cook, where he had been present at the official opening to-day. Truman brought his machine down otherwise undamaged, and his passenger and himself were unhurt. It was a skilful feat of flying. The wheel and tail plane were lost in a mishap at Mt. Cook, in which two other men were not so fortunate. The mishap was after the official opening ceremony of the Mt. Cook ’drome. Truman took off, with Harry Wigley, son of the Managing-Director of the Mt. Cook Tourist Company, as passenger, to give an exhibition of aerobatics at an altitude of between 3000 and 4000 feet. He commenced inverted flying, rolling and looping. Then the machine dived from about 2000 feet and swooped over the aerodrome very close to the ground. He turned and dived down the valley again, swooping low. Greatly to the alarm and consternation of the spectators in a moment the undercarriage of the machine struck a parked motor bus, shearing through its roof, shattering the glass and’ tearing the sheet metal as if it were paper. The impact tore off one wheel of the undercarriage of the aeroplane and part of the left tail plane. The wheel was at once taken out into the flying field, and shown to the men in the aeroplane. The pilot flew low for a moment, as if undecided w.hat to do. Then he pointed in the direction of Christchurch, and flew to Wigram. The two injured men were H. Max Watman (a “Star-Sun” reporter), and Reginald N. Downes (chief reporter of the “Timaru Herald”). They were sitting in the bus which the aeroplane struck. Whatman was severely shocked, and was cut by flying gjlass.. His spectacles were smashed, but his eyes escaped injury. Downes also was cut and shocked, but not so seriously.’ Whatman was brought to Christchurch by another plane for medical attention.

Flying Officer F. Truman is a nqphew of Mr. G. M. Truman, of Greymouth. A native of Auckland, he has had lengthy flying experience, including service with the Royal Air Force in India. He is now attached to the New Zealand Air Force, and is stationed at Wigram.

SCRUB CUTTER SHOT MASTERTON, May 3. A scrub cutter, known as “Buster” Stevenson, aged about 25, employed on George Moore’s property at Epairaima, was accidentally shot in the thigh while getting through a fence with a rifle when rabbit shooting, on Friday. His cries attracted the attention of the station hands over three hours afterwards and the victim was immediately conveyed to Masterton Hospital. His condition is reported to be grave. GRAFTON GULLY VICTIM AUCKLAND, May 3. A young man, whose identity has not been established, was found dead at the foot of Grafton Gully this morning. A wristlet watch he was wearing had stopped at 10.35. It is presumed he fell from the bridge into the deepest part of the gully at that hour on Saturday night. There were no papers or other articles in his possession to indicate who he was, although a shirt he was wearing bore the initials “H.T.” He was aged about 26 years. CYCLE AND CAR COLLIDE. PALMERSTON N., May 3. A young man named Kenneth Priest of Pahiatua, met with a serious accident on the Waikanae Beach road yesterday afternoon. When riding a motor-cycle he collided with a car coming in the opposite direction, to suffer a broken left arm, concussion involving a possible fracture of the skull and shock. He was conveyed to the Palmerston North Hospital, where he now lies in a serious condition. His parents reside at Okains Bay, Christchurch. SKULL FRACTURED. ROTORUA. May 4. Suffering from head injuries and concussion, a labourer, Archibald Graham Kerr, 36, was admitted to the Rotorua Hospital, as the result of a collision with a motor car. He was cycling on the Wairoa road on the outskirts of the when he was struck by a car and' thrown to the roadway, sustaining a fractured skull. His condition .is regarded as seribus.

YOUTHS WOUNDED TAUMARUNUT, May 2. Cyril D. Henderson, the youth who was found on a local doctor’s doorstep in the early hours of Thursday morning in an unconscious state, and severely injured about the head, is stijl in the hospital. His condition is now satisfactory. A large pool of blood was found at the street intersection about 150 yards from where Henderson was found unconscious, and other patches of blood were found further along the street, indicating that he had suffered extensive bleeding. It is now stated that another young man called on another doctor in the early hours of the same morning, and received . treatment for two wounds in the back, which appeared to have been inflicted with a knife. WOMAN KILLED. OAMARU, May 4. Struck by a car driven by J. Thyne. of Morven, on Saturday afternoon, in Thames Street. Mrs. A. Wilson, an elderly woman, Oamaru, was severely injured. She died this morning at the hospital.