CHAR-A-BANC CAPSIZES

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 17 March 1925, Page 4

CHAR-A-BANC CAPSIZES

ACCIDENT NEAR HAWERA. DRIVER AND A PASSENGER INJURED. REMAINDER LUCKILY ESCAPE. With ten lady passengers aboard, Mr W. C. Kelland’s new char-a-banc, which usually plies between Hawera and Kaponga, got off the tar-seal on to the steeply sloping side of the road at the bottom of the Waihi Road, at about six o’clock yesterday evening, and after turning broadside on capsized and came to rest with the wheels uppermost. Mr Kelland, who drives the vehicle himself, was pinned underneath the steering wheel and was removed to hospital in a serious condition, while Mis P. O’Brien, of Stratford, who was the only passenger requiring medical, attention, .was taken to the hospital suffering from a slight, cut over an eye. HOW IT HAPPENED. Mr Kelland had picked up his passengers at the railway station, and was proceeding, it is said, on a special trip to Opunake, via the South Road. He got out. to the. Waihi hill, about two miles from town, and when going down the slope towards the stream lie passed Mr Frank Lysons, who was driving his ear in towards Hawera? At. the point of meeting the road takes a slight bend, and although the off-side wheels of Mr .Lvsons ’ vehicle traversed the side of the road about two feet six inches out from the tar-sealed roadway, the off-side wheels of the char-a-bane also got off the bituminous surface. It was here that trouble commenced, for the road on Mr Kelland’s side was .badly broken away and sloping down from the tar-sealed edge. With the slight bend to tiate and two wheels of the char-a-banc running at a lower level than the other two wheels "up on the tar, the tail of the heavy vehicle began to swing round in a dangerously alarming manner. By giving the wheel a considerable twist the driver was able to get. the.jchar-a-banc back on to the tarred road. The slope of fhe road and. the sway of the ’bus was, however, all against the nian at the wheel, and the big vehicle. apparently got- out of hand and again got down on to the slope beside the road. This time the swing was even more pronounced, and, , turning broadside on, the char-a-banc, capsized.

RESCUING THE OCCUPANTS; The part of the machine immediately above the driver was broken in, but the strongly built body, which at the back was built right up to the roof of the ’bus, afforded protection for the ten passengers, who were thrown together in a heap in the cavity inside. Meanwhile, Mr Lysons, who had seen the ’bus sway and had later heard the crash, turned back, and with Mr G. Meyrick, who came on the scene in his car, busied themselves, in the work of releasing the passengers and driver from the wreckage. Messrs E. and J. Bourke, of Inaha, then arrived, and the rescuers finally managed to release Mr Kelland, whose neck had been jammed underneath the steering wheel, and who was black in the face and almost choked when extricated from his precarious position. Drs McGhie and Buist were called, and Mr Kelland and Mrs O’Brien were removed to the hospital. 1 i - The story of the accident was plainly told by the wheel;marks on the road, all of which were easily discernible and were, carefully measured by the police. Of the passengers the majority came from Stratford and three from Wanganui. ; On enquiry being made at the hospital this morning; Dr Stokes stated that Mr Kelland, who was suffering from concussion, had -regained consciousness and was", progressing satisfactorily. Mrs O’Brien was stated to be recovering rapidly, aitd Mrs Reynolds, who had. suffered from shock and had also been admitted, was now all right again.