MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19743, 16 September 1927, Page 10

MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.

BUS STRUCK BY TRAM. THREE REAR SEATS WRECKED. PASSENGERS FALL ON ROAD. # A miraculous escape was experienced by passengers in a motor-bus which was struck by a tramoar at the corner of Manukan Road and Mahuni Street, Newmarket, shortly before eleven o'clock last evening. The bus, which was stationary at the time, contained nearly 20 passengers, the seating capacity being almost fully occupied. As a result of the collision about three-quarters of the rear wall of the bus and about half of one side, with a portion of the roof, was torn away, and the three rear seats on one side were torn from their supports, the backs being broken off and the wreckage deposited in a confused heap on the floor. , Two men passengers fell out of the back of the bus on to the concrete road, but no one was injured. Th bus is owned by Mr. J. Collett, of Newmarket, and was driven by Mr. F. Voice. It was proceeding from the city to Panmure when the driver pulled up beside a bus bound for Ellerslie, which had broken down by the roadside. Mr. Voice said ho had been waiting for two or three minutes in case passengers from the other bus wanted to transfer when the accident occurred. With a startling crash the tram suddenly struck the rear of the bus, thrusting it forward a dozen yards although the brakes were on, ripping a large gaping holo in tho rear of the bodywork and demolishing three of the seats. The busdriver kept control of the vehicle in spite of tho unexpectedness of the impact and drew up close to the footpath. The path travelled by the bus was littered with broken glass and splintered wood, while remnants of tho bodywork trailed from the rear of the vehicle. From the appearance of tho wreckage after the accident it seemed incredible that tho passengers in the rear seats should have escaped uninjured. Although a number of women were included among the passengers there was little confusion after tho first shock of tho impact. One of tho men who fell out, when asked if ho had received any injury, said: —"Not a scratch. I have just a slight feeling in my shoulder where it struck the concrete road." Tho windows of the tramway motorman's compartment were broken, but the tram was otherwise undamaged, and was able to continue its journey. The motorman was Mr. A. Bailey.