MAN’S LEGS BROKEN

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 80, 16 March 1933, Page 9

MAN’S LEGS BROKEN

CRUSHED BY LOAD OF PIG IRON. TRUCK TESTING OPERATIONS. While a new truck chassis, laden with two tons of pig iron, was being tested on Seapoint road, Napier, the load shifted forward, crushing both legs of a passenger named B. Hutchinson, of the Colonial Motor Company, Wellington. The machine was forced out of control, and in the space of a moment had left the road, crashed into a fence, then on to a telegraph post, wrecking the wires and doing slight damage to the chassis. Hutchinson was rushed to the Napier Hospital, where it was found he had both legs fractured. Inquiries disclose a slight improvement in Mr Hutchinson’s condition. It is understood that the test was being conducted on behalf of the Napier Fire Brigade with the view to possible purchase. The chassis was driven by Mr J. L. Broun, service manager of the Colonial Motor Company, who had with him as a passenger Mr J. E. Peach, of Napier, neither of whom was injured. Mr Hutchinson was seated with his back to the seat occupied by the other two men. so as to watch the load of pig iron. The gradient along Seapoint road was apparently too steep for the manner in which the iron was loaded on to the chassis, for it suddenly lurched forward, with the outcome related above. The injured man is married and is a resident of Mornington, an extension of Brooklyn suburb in Wellington.