MOTOR-CAR ACCIDENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18763, 17 July 1924, Page 11

MOTOR-CAR ACCIDENTS.

WRECKED BY A TRAM.

CRUSHED AGAINST CENTRE-POLE

OCCUPANT'S NARROW ESCAPE.

A sensational accident occurred in Weilesley Street East about 1.40 p.m. yesterday, when a motor-car, driven by Mr. J. Rogers, of Onehunga, was crushed between a tramcar and a pole. Fortunately the driver of the car escaped serious injury.

Mr. Rogers was driving his Ford car down the street at the rate of 8 or 10 miles an hour, the engine having been shut off. As he approached Rutland Street another motor-car turned into Wellesley Street. To avoid it Mr. Rogers applied the foot brakes suddenly, with the result that the car skidded on to the tram rails. A city-bound tramcar crashed into the motor-car, slewing it round and crushing it against a centrepole. The framework of the motor-car was splintered, the driver being pinned against the wheel between the pole and the tramcar, a space of little more than 2ft.

Mr. Rogers was extricated with some difficulty, apd was attended to by the St. John Ambulance Brigade, whose headquarters are in Rutland Street. He was suffering from scalp wounds and abrasions on the body, but was not badly injured. He was able to proceed home. The car, a five-seater, was reduced to scrap iron and matchwood, there being no part of it left intact. Where it had been jammed against the pole the two sides were almost touching. The engine, however, was not badly damaged. A policy of £150 in the New Zealand Insurance Company is held on the car, the remains of which were dragged away about half an hour after the mishap. As a result of the accident the tramway service was disorganised for over half an hour. The tramcar that crashed into the car suffered very little damage, and was able to proceed. Fortunately there were no passengers with Mr. Rogers when the accident occurred, a man who had been with him having alighted at the top of Wellesley Street.

TWO VEHICLES IN COLLISION.

ONE CAB BADLY DAMAGED.

A collision between two motor-cars occurred at the corner of Remuera Road and Dilworth Avenue at about 8.45 p.m. yesterday. A car driven by Mr. C. A. Johnson was proceeding along Remuera Road in the direction of the city, when another car, driven by Mr. G. F. Yerex, turned out of Dilworth Avenue in the direction of Remuera. The front of Mr. Johnson's car struck the rear right wheel of other other car, with the result that his car sustained damage to the right mudguard and steering gear. The other car was not extensively damaged, and was able to proceed under its own power.

EXPLOSION IN A LOBBY.

ENGINE WRENCHED FROM BED.

Considerable damage was done to the engine of a motor-truck, owned by Mr. B. Cunningham, of Onehunga, as the result of an explosion for which no definite explanation has yet been made. The driver of the vehicle, Mr. J. Preston, was starting the engine when the explosion wrenched the engine from its bed and damaged it beyond repair. Fortunately no injury was sustained by the driver. The damage to the engine is estimated at £300, but it is understood the loss is covered by insurance. *fhe theory is that some explosive substance had been placed in the working of the engine, but its nature has not been determined.