TRAM LEAVES RAILS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVII, Issue LXVII, 16 May 1919, Page 5

TRAM LEAVES RAILS

LARGE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS . INJURED

(BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

CHRISTCHURCH, May 15. Late this afternoon there occured the biggest accident which has yet taken place on the Christchurch tramways a largo number of people being more'or less seriously injured. A car, with two double-deck trailers attached, left Sumner for the city at 4.10 p.m. All the cars were fully loaded but not overcrowded. All went well till reaching a loop in front of the Heathcote Ariv Hotel, about half-way to town, when the rear trailer left the lines and, after a couple of lurches fell over on its left side. The passengers on top were violently flung to the road, and those inside were inextricably mixed up, and showered with broken glass.

It was at once seen that between 20 and thirty passengers were injured out of the fifty contained in the car. Ambulances and doctors were summoned Irom town, and those unable to move wore carried into the hotel. All who could hobble along were taken by an electric car direct to the hospital where they were at once attended to. home of the injured, however preferred to go to their own homes, and drivers of passing cars were good in assisting with the transport of such cases.

Ambulances removed the more seriously injured—nine adults and dren—"tp-v-the-hospital.-No cause is assigned for the trailer leaving the rails, but an inquiry is to be held.

The following is a list of the injured! ai. present." in Christchurch hospital: Eric P. Gennj aged 22,..- serious injuries to left hand-and right foot. Samuel Brunton, 47, fractured skull. William. Flavell, 31, injury to leg. John A. Chapman, 41, broken collarbone. James Borthwick, 59, broken left arm. Emile Diehl, 62, broken ankle. Mrs Loughton, facial injuries. Mrs Reed (of Ashburton) lacerated face. Infant named Needham, two years, severe injury to head. Lan McAllum, 8 years, shock and abracions. Donald McCallum, 4 years, two fingers amputated. Daphne Chapman, 11 years, lacerated hand. Girl named Matthews, 6 years, deep wound in chin and knee. Besides these, about fifteen other people were more or less injured, some being treated in the out-patient department at the hospital, and some going to their own homes. As far as can be ascertained, the names are: Mrs Green, 50, injury to back and leg. . •

Mrs Heap, Mrs Jackson and Mrs X Whisker (Wellington), and J. Guy, abrasions of knee. L. Winterhourne, abrasion of knee. Mrs Adamson, injuries to head cuts and bruises. Mrs W. J. Hughes, injuries to back, and bruises. Mrs John R. Olliver, cut in forehead, bruises, and shock. Mrs L. T. Olliver, shock.