Lucky Escapes- In Smash Of Trams On Single Line

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22948, 17 May 1949, Page 6

Lucky Escapes- In Smash Of Trams On Single Line

(P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 17. Passengers and crews had a fortunate escape from serious injury when two trams crashed head-on, smashing two driving cabs to matchwood, in Ferry road opposite Mackworth street, at 8.16 a.m. yesterday.

Only one person suffered injuries necessitating admission to hospital. He was:

Mr. A. Kirk, tramway motorman, of 165 St. Albans street. Mr. Kirk suffered cuts, bruises and shock. He was taken to the Christchurch Public Hospital where his condition was later reported to be satisfactory. Three passengers were treated as out-patients. The crash occurred in thick fog between the 7.47 a.m. express tram from Sumner and the 8.4 a.m. tram outward bound from Cathedral Square to Sumner. The trams were on a single track in Ferry road between two loops.

Several Minor Inquiries

The outgoing tram was towing two trailers and the ingoing tram one trailer.

The impact threw many passengers to the floor and several of them suffered minor injuriesOne girl in the tram from Sumner became hysterical and was taken to the hospital by a private car where she was treated as an out-patient and discharged. The two motormen had miraculous escapes from serious injury. Mr. Kirk was driving the ingoing tram. Mr, H. S. Ritchie, of 16 Pannells Avenue, Avonsidc, the driver of the ether tram, suffered only a bump on a leg and did not have to be taken to the hospital. The trams were locked together, blocking the line. A wrecking gang had to use an oxy-acetylene torch to free the wrecked front portions of the trams. The line was clear by 9,45 a.m.