MOTOR-BUS TRAGEDY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18861, 8 November 1924, Page 2 (Supplement)

MOTOR-BUS TRAGEDY.

STORY OF A LljQ;lsp£; MATCH. . V:-.- . vj FILLING; THE TANK. SACRIFICE OF £IGHT LIVES-

JURY'S RECOMMENDATIONS.

•-A Startling disclosure was made at the inquest on the eight persons—four women, three men, and a little girl —who lost their li ves as a r«sult of the omnibus tragedy at Nuneaton, Warwickshire, on August 30. A witness asserted that while petrol was .being poured in A .the. tank? fe passenger struck a mat£h in order-'that the driver; might sue, and instantly the flames burst out. That the danger was. realised by some at least of the passengers, was suggested by evidence given by Miss, Ethel Ancott, one of the survivors, who was brought out of hospital and. whoso neck and hands were bandaged. She said 6ho heard a man ask the driver if he should strike a match, but the driver made no reply.

The Coroner: Did you see anyone strike a match ?

Witness: Yesj there was one struck, but I could not say who struck it. Mrs. Tibbetts said, " We shall all be up in the air if,.you do strike a match," and as soon as she had said"that the flames broke out.

Miss. Florence Manning, who escaped serious injury, said she was sitting on the 1 first drop seat, which' was behind the driver. She heard a man ask tho driver | what was the matter when tho omnibus;, stopped. The driver said they had run out of petrol, and asked for a, tin. She heard another man ask him if he wanted ! a light. The driver replied, "Yes, but don't hold it too near." The driver was Souring in the petrol when it burst into am 3.

The Coroner: Did the gentleman strike a match?— Yes, sir. Are you quite sure about that?— Yes, sir.

When did he strike tho match ?—The driver was«pouring in the petrol when the gentleman struck the match. What happened to you when the petrol burst into ' flames ?—I dashed for the door.

Counsel: The driver had started to pour in the petrol • before the match was struck ?•—Yes. Witness added that the man who struck the match struck it over her shoulder, fi t

riame Over Tyitness' Head. The Coroner: You were within a few feet from where the driver was pouring it in ?—Yes, sir. 4 _••• • . Was he using what is called a funnel ? —No. » 4 . Surely, as you wore so close, you will be able to tell us how* far the match got from the hole?—He was leaning right over my shoulder, but I did not look up to see. The flame went right over my head. *

George Henry Day, a miner, described the tragedy. He was standing up, he added, because there were no seats. When the bus stopped oil the hill he heard the driver ask for a tin of petrol " from under that seat." While he was; pouring it in someone asked him to' " scotch" tne rear wheel.

The Coroner: Did you actually see the petrol bein£ poured in ?—lt (meaning the omnibus) ,was %ctually in darkness. I heard the petrol being poured in. Did you hear the driver say anything while he was in the act of pouring in the j petrol?—No, sirv !> 1 4 Did you hear anyone address 1 a remark to him while he was pouring -..the petrol in?— No/sir. V; '■'■>'{■ - . ' Evidence by'the' Driver.' . ' , Jphn. William Fdwler,"the driver of thai omnibus,who elected, to give evidence sifter baihg-' warned by -the coroner, said "that, as far &s he recollected there were 16 1 or 17 passengers. * *" r "' The Coroner Would you be surprised to. .there were 20; riot counting a baby in phns?—Yes. { s '- \ . Fowler said that when near .the top of this Cock and Bear Hill the engine gaveout. He asked a passenger to pass him the emergency tin from under the back seat. " I commenced to pour the petrol into the tank," he said. "While this was in progress a flame shot up from where I was pouring, catching my fingers and nose. I jumped \back and thought I threw the petrol can into the street. I saw the oihnibus was in flames, and shouted to the passengers to undo the catch of the emergency door. I ran to tjie back of the omnibus, smashed the window of the emergency door and tried to get hold of the catch, but the passengers were so firmly wedged that I' could not jjo it." Witness swore that no ono used the words " Shall I strike a match?" or that he replied, " les, but do not hold it too close.

The Coroner: Can .you suggest how the flame could have been caused ?—No, sir. Has your employer ever warned vou against filling up while you have passengers ?—No, sir. /

" A Bfd Practice." * Did it enter your mind that it was dangerous?—l know it was dangerous Why did you do it ?—lt is a thing I have dope, before. Are you sure that no one struck a match to show you the hole ?—Not to mv knowledge. • • > ' i J A Juryman: Is' it not a bad practice to pour m petrol without a funnel ?—Yes it is a bad practice. '■ '" The Coroner: Are you supplied with a funnel "—No, except in the garage. .. The coroner,; .summing up, asked the jury whether they considered that tho public were safeguarded, when a motoromnibus tank was filled .while passengers were on the omnibus, and whether they thought in the present ease that tho emergency door was made known sufficiently by notices. It was strange that the girl sitting by it did not know of the existence of an emergency tloor.

The Jury's Verdict. Tho jury; found a verdict of "Accidental death caused through lioing burnt in a motor-omnibus which was set on fire through the ignition of - petrol fumes caused by the striking of a match white filling up the petrol tank." Thev also expressed the opinion that the petrol tank should not have been replenished while the omnibus was loaded with passengers, and reoommended that in future all omnibus drivers should examine tanks before loading.up, and also that the omnibuses should be properly .illiAninafed. It was also recommended • that all emergency doors should be free from obstruction, and that two or more notices, bo posted in conspicuous places pointing .otit how to open emergency doors. ( ( Stricter regulations with regard tq licensing vehicles were suggested..