MOTORING ACCIDENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18388, 2 May 1923, Page 9

MOTORING ACCIDENTS.

EPIDEMIC IN VICTORIA.

THREE CYCLISTS RUN DOWN

The toll of the: motor-car ,on human Jives during the week-end was particularly heavy, says a Melbourne . paper of April 9. " The fatal accidents numbered three, while several people were injured.

The new bridge at Little River on the Gee Jong road between Geelongand Werri' bee was the scene of a sensational accident, three yoaiMul cyclists, being run into by a motor-car and badly injured. - The casualties were:-—Frederick Fmlay, *18 years, fractured ribs and a--fracture of the : shoulder. Allan Lawry, 18 years, fracture of the base of the skull, and Reginald Richardson, 19 years, -fractured collarbone and abrasions to the head, face and body. - \ - „> .»,"-,-- The youths were members of the Footscray District Cycling Club. . That body had arranged a cycling trip to Geelong, starting at 9 a.m. The members taking part in the outing numbered 21, : Th* journey to Geelong was accomplished ( Without serious- mishap, although one or two of the rideta had spills, and, another collided with a motor-car, fortunately without sustaining injury. Gc<;long wa* reached at 11 a.m. and the return journey was started at 5 p.m. The riders ««« travelling in pairs, and nearirtg th« tittle River bridge, about 0 ttrih<s from VVerribee, a motor-tar approached ,-.ih'em from the rear. At the same tiros there v.- a* a motor-car coming in. the opposite direction. The cyclist* at the time werebeing paced hr a motor-cycle. By some remarkable mischance, the reason "feeing at present the subject of police investigation, the car travelling in the yaffle direction as the club members struck two' of thecyclists, knocking them under the machine aad crashing the bicycles. That was just before the bridge was reached. . 'the car then swerving on to another '» the bunch, who by this time was on the bridge, brought one of the riders: down, v In' the car at the time- was John Camp* bell Bradley, and his soti, Victor John Bradley, The latter is a licensed driver. At the time of the- accident the father was driving and his son was sitting alongside' instructing him m th* wor*uug i of the steering apparatus. The- motor «'«» immediately pulled tip after the acci-/-; dent, and the three injured • meir-FM*... conveyed to Werribce,