TRAGIC ACCIDENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 31 July 1924, Page 5

TRAGIC ACCIDENT

WEDDING CAR OUT OF CONTROL CRASHES INTO GROUP OF GUESTS ONE KILLED AND SEVERAL INJURED (United Press Association.) WELLINGTON. July 30. A shocking accident occurred in the upper end ot Dixon Street this niter* noon. A crowd of wedding guests were, waiting outside the entrance gate, of St. John’s Church to greet- the bride and bridegroom when one of the. wedding ears standing further up the street, which is very steep and dangerous at this poiid. got- out of control and ran downhill. Turning inwards and running on in the footpath it struck a body of guests, all women, and crashed onwards In a concrete wall. Miss Heat chard was killed, three were seriously injured, and two others were injured more el less seriously. I lie injured include .Mrs Wills (IYloiic), -Mrs Hall (Newtown) and Mrs F. Wheeler. The best man, Mr Collins, of Pet.one, and several others were slightly injured. The bride and bridegroom, Mrs anti Mr Janies .Spence, had left by the first ear, and it was the second car which got out of control. The car which ran away contained the best man, Mr Collins, two bridesmaids, and two little girls. It was parked on a very steep slope above the church, and as soon as the driver, J. Pickford, released the brakes to follow the bride’s car it jumped the kerb and dakhed on to the footpath. The bridegroom’s young brother was pulled out of the way just in time, but Miss Scratchard, a close friend of the bride, was killed instantly. Mesdames Toomer, Witts, and Wiiceler were taken to hospital, where the last two are still ill. The extent, of their injuries are not yet known. Mr Collins was injured in the face, but neither he nor the others were seriously hurt. Complaints are made of the long delay before ambulances arrived.