TRAMCARS COLLIDE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18276, 18 December 1922, Page 6

TRAMCARS COLLIDE.

ONE MOTORMAN INJURED.

SMASH AT REMUERA.

BEGINNING OF SINGLE TRACK.

A serious collision between two tramcars occurred at about 10.15 o'clock last night on the Itemucra Road near the intersection of Vincent Avenue. The motormen's compartments of both trams were badly telescoped and the motorman of the car which received the most damage, Mr. J. H. Hipwell, of Moana Avenue, Onehunga, sustained slight head and other injuries through being pinned between the front and rear portions of the compartment. The motorman of the other tram, Mr. D. Morrison, of Kimberley Road, Epsom, had a narrow escape from serious injury. He jumped clear of the car after he had successfully applied the brakes. Both trams were carrying passengers at tho time, about 20 in the outgoing car and four or five in the ingoing, but no one was hurt beyond receiving a severe shaking. Considering the wrecked condition of tho front portions of both cars the injury to limb might easily have been more serious. The accident occurred at a point where tho doublo trajm track merges into one. The tram driven by Mr. Hipwell left Customs Street at 9.45 p.m. on its last trip to tho Remuera terminus. The other tram was proceeding from tho terminus to Newmarket, en route to tho Epsom depot. After leaving Clonbern Road intersection, the third section from tie city, the outward bound car proceeded at a fair rate of speed toward the P OII « S ' which were also being approached by the Newmarket-bound car. It is stated that, ths driver of the former car endeavoured to apply tho brakes as he drew near the points, for tho purpose of allowing the ingoing car to pass. Trouble appears to have been experienced, however, and instead of stopping, the car swung round the bond in the rails on to tho single track and met the other one about a car's length past the points. The sound of the impact was audible in the neighbouring houses. Although the motorman of the .New-market-bound car applied tho brakes promptly, both cars were travelling at a sufficient speed to smash the iron and woodwork of the front compartments of both cars. Mr. Hipwell was pinned m a space of about a foot wide with the cear-box and motorman's seat jammed in on either side of him. He was extricated in a semi-conscious condition and removed to the residence of Iff. w. *u. McCormick. where he was found to be suffering from slight wounds to the head and wrists, He was sufficiently recovered shortly afterwards to return to his home. Tho outgoing tram was the more severely damaged of the two, apparently owing to tho greater speed at which it was travelling. The heavy .metal apron encircling the bottom of the front of the compartment was pushed in almost the length of the car's platform, a distance of several feet. The motorman s compartment. was likewise driven in several feet till it nearly touched the, front door of tho tram. The wooden flooring and steps of the platform were stripped and some portions scattered on the road with the glass from tho .windows of the compartment. The other car evidently did not receive the same impact as the apron was intact. Tho motorman's compartment, nevertheless, was pushed back on to the platform, which was partially wrecked. Both trams were taken to the kpsom depot for repaid, tho less dahiaged one under its own power, the other being towed bv another tram. Late trams proceeding to and from the Remuera terminus were not delayed any length of time, the lines being cleared by 11 p.m.