MOTOR-BUS ON FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19808, 1 December 1927, Page 13

MOTOR-BUS ON FIRE.

FALL OVER A BRIDGE. MANY PASSENGERS TRAPPED. TWENTY-FIVE CASUALTIES. Twenty-five persons were injured last week when a motor omnibus got out of control, owing to the steering gear locking, and crashed through the railing of a bridge over Ironbark Creek, near Bendigo. Victoria. It fell a distance of about 6ft,, and then burst into Harries. More than half the passengers were trapped in the burning bus, and rescuers had a perilous task in liberating them. The injured admitted to hospital were:—Myrtle Pennington, burns to legs and arms: Gwen Cocks, concussion and lacerated scalp; Olive Eddy, concussion; Edna Lonsdale, concussion and abrasions; Eileen McNamara, injury to back ; Agnes Genthei, injury to back, and abrasions; Margery Ilill, fractured left shoulder; Winnie Clarke, contusions to arms and back ; Clarence Pascoe, injury to arm and abrasions; Maria Crowle, concussion, injury to scalp; William Harold Newton, burns and abrasions to body; Marlborough Davis (driver), cuts to hand, and abrasions; Minnie Hartley, severe burns and abrasions They were also treated for shock Twelve others were treated at Bendigo Hospital for abrasions and burns, and left for their homes The bus left Eaglehawk for Bendigo shortly before 8 a.m., carrying 25 passengers, chiefly girls employed at the Bendigo Knitting Mills The bus was licenced to carry only 16 passengers As the vehicle was descending a slight gradient the steering gear locked, and the bus swerved across the road and crashed through the railing of the bridge When it struck the bed of the creek the chassis moved forward on to the top of the engine and petrol tank The tank burst, and almost immediately the chassis was enveloped m flames Several passengers jumped from the vehicle when it left the road, but, with the exception of a few who managed to squeeze through the door of the bus, the other passengers were trapped inside. With the impact the door had become almost blocked, and but for the timely arrival of a number of men several would have perished m the flames. The rescue party chopped away the side of the chassis and released those inside. The bus was completely destroyed.