TRAFFIC TRAGEDY

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 June 1943, Page 2

TRAFFIC TRAGEDY

WELLINGTON TRAM CAPSIZED ONE KILLED—2B INJURED WELLINGTON, June 13. Resulting in the death of an airman and injuries to 28 other people, one of the worst tramway accidents in the history of Wellington occurred at the intersection of Coutts Street and Onepu Road;’ Kilbirnie, shortly after 7 o’clock on Saturday evening, when a heavily-laden tramcar, proceeding toward th® centre of the city, left the rails and crashed on its side. The dead man was: — Leading Aircraftman James Edward Kerr, R.N.Z.A.F., whose parents live at 197 Talbot Street, Geraldine. „ , Leading Aircraftman Kerr, . who was 27, died shortly after admission to the Wellington Public Hospital. His injuries included a fractured base of the skull and laceration of the brain. , ~ „ T 1 The injured admitted to the Wellington Public Hospital were:— Miss C. Anderson, R.N.Z.A.F., suspected fractured jaw. Mrs. Ayres, 377 Karaka Bay Road, fractured arm. , Ar _ „ Miss Jean Luxford, 45 Mantell Street, injuries to back. Donald McLean, motorman, 65 Kelburn Parade, head injuries. . F. Ratcliffe, 52 Bridge Street, injury to shoulder. , , ' Mrs. Ratcliffe, 52 Bridge Street, suspected fractured ribs and concus’jl°Miss Betty Smith, 7 Gaudin Street, suspected fractured leg and abrasions. ~ . e „ Jack Smith, 7 Gaudin Street fractured pelvis and wrist. Frederick Such, 37 Breaker Bay Road, incised head wound. Miss Betty Tait, 60 Hector Street, injuries to back. Sergeant Frank Butler, R.N.Z.A.r. fractured rib and injury to liver and pneumothorax —condition serious. Admitted to hospital at an air staAircraftman J. R. Bridgeman, shock. , Corporal B. J. Child, shock. Pilot Officer T. R. Paul, head injury and fractured left clavicle. Treated at public hospital or elsewhere and returned to their homes: George Carr, 44 Bridge Street, injury to head. , Morris Elliott, aged 12, 64 Hector Street, incisions to hands and hip. Raymond Elliott, aged 14, same address, nose injury. c+ ,. Qot Mrs. Mihail, 31 Ventnor Sheet, Mihail, same address, cuts to hands. T A . R. E. Roberts, R.N.Z.A.F., shock. Stafford Robinson, 47 Falkirk Avenue, injuries not stated. Miss Clare Ryan, 31 Monorgan Road, incised scalp wound. Alfred Shilling, 34 Ferry Street, broken clavicle. Mrs. Frank Tait, 60 Hector Street, incised wound on forehead. Mrs. Wheton, 14 Hector Street, he Mii n ’juiS’ Wilson, 171 Marine Pa ££ e ' CXm to 27 6 B d reaker Bay Road, injuries not stated.

CAUSE OF SMASH. The tramcar concerned was fully Jaden with passengers from the Seatoun and Miramar districts and was on its way to town. From the descriptions of eye-witnesses it would appear that the front bogie of the tramcar, instead of proceeding straight on across the intersection as the tram was routed, began to take the turn right-handed northward into Onepu Road. The rear bogie however, seems to have taken the intended course across the intersection, with the result that the wheels of both bogies left the rails and the tramcar developed, a. skid sideways, with the tail swinging round past the front, finishing its movement by crashing over upon what had originally been its near side on the pavein Having swung round in its skid, the tramcar fell on the side on which the doors were open, so that n was, for a time, not possible for those who rushed to the scene to reach those injured and trapped inside .many of whom were screaming foi help. M clambered on top of the trampar and broke in windows. They immediately began to lift out the injured and uninjured. Almost simultaneously a rescuer obtained an axe and broke in the window at the conductor’s end. affording an opening through which badly-wounded cases could'be brought out. The injured were treated in a nearby chemists shop. Calls for assistance sent out immediately the accident occurred were swiftly answered, and it was not long before doctors and ambulances appeared. _ Three of the staff of the public hospital were dispatched to the' scene and doctors came from an aerodrome and private homes nearby. The more seriously injured were got away to hospitals sneedily and others were transported fij private cars. At the hospital all was ready for their 'reception. Directly news of the accident was ieceived, extra nurses to assist m tne casualty reception ward were called back from their off-duty period, as were extra porters to handle the cases as received. . A number of doctors were called in from outside to assist the regular staff. . Blood donors were also held in readiness. A large crowd gathered at the scene of the accident and, until the arrival of police and traffic officials, EPS. personnel took control. The City Tramways Department soon gathered a team of men to shift the damaged car. It was a difficult job the bogies had to be removed separately,, and a considerable amount of undergear had to be moved before the body could be lifted and dragged away. The work o clearing was not completed till about 4 o’clock this morning.

VAN AND CAR COLLIDE WELLINGTON, June 12. As a result of a collision between a small car and a United States Afmy van, on the Hutt road, just south of the Petone crossing, about 6.30 a.m., four people were admitted to hospital. They were George Wood, a butcher, of Main Road, Upper Hutt, and his three children. Wood received a fractured wrist and it is expected that he also fractured some ribs. Elizabeth suffered abrasions and shock, John is believed to have a fractured jaw, and Ronald also suffered abrasions and shock. CYCLIST KILLED AUCKLAND, June 13. Involved in a collision with a motor-car at Point Cheyaher, a cyclist received fatal injuries. He was Henry William McGregor Farrow, a widower, aged 60, of j. omt Chevalier.