MOTORING ACCIDENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20475, 29 January 1930, Page 12

MOTORING ACCIDENTS.

MOTOR-CYCLIST KILLED.

COLLISION WITH A VANM

COMPANION ESCAPES INJURY*

MISHAP IN HEAVY RAIN, .J

Fatal injuries were received by a motor-cyclist, Mr. George McLean, aged 46, married, „of Mokoia Road, Birkenhead, when his machine collided in Mokoia Road early last evening with a light motor-van driven by Mr. Henry Boles, storekeeper, of Birkenhead. The accident occurred during heavy rain, the visibility being very poor. Mr. McLean was proceeding toward Birkdale, a friend, Mr. George Rusbridge, occupying a side-chair attached to the*motor-cycle. The van, which was travelling in the opposite direction, struck the cycle with its right-hand front mudguard.

Mr. McLean suffered a fracture of the skull, a fracture of the right thigh, a compound fracture of the right leg, a fracture of the right .wrist, while he also suffered • severely from con* cussion. He was attended to by Dr. J, W. Craven, of Birkenhead, and was later admitted to the Auckland Hospital, where his death occurred early this morning. ;; •

Both Mr. Boles and Mr. Rusbridge escaped injury, while the motor-cycle vras only slightly damaged. The front portion of the van was extensively damaged and the windscreen was shattered. The sudden application of the brakes when on the point .of impact caused three of the tyres to be practically ripped of the rims.

COLLISION AT OTAHUHU. NEW [VEHICLE INVOLVED. A collision between two! five-neater motor-cars, one of which was new, occurred at the corner of Great South Road and Mould Street, Otahuhu, at mid-day. yesterday. One car was driven by Mr. Reginald McDermott, of Ponsonby, and the other, which was the new one, was driven by Mr. Jonathan Thompson, of Waitakaruru. The front wheel of Mr. McDermott's,car was smashed to pieces, and the radiator and axle were bent. Th other car had the front mudguard buckled and headlight damaged. Neither of tl?e drivers was injured.

MISHAP TO MOTOR-VAN. SILENT POLICEMAN STRUCK. In avoiding & collision with a large motor-truck at iihe corner of Station Road and Great Sontb Road, Otahuhu, early last evening, the driyer of a light van swerved to the centre of the road and the vehicle struck a silent policeman. The impact caused the back axle of the van to snap and' the body dropped to the road. I No injury was sustained by the driver, Mr. F. Gordon, who is employed by Messrs. Andrew and of Otahuhu. - v

IMPACT AT A CORNER.

TWO MOTORISTS INJURED.

[by telegraph.—OWN"*' correspondent. J TOTARA NORTH, Tuesday.

A collision between a heavily-laden truck belonging to Mr. A. Elliott, of Otangaroa, and a car driven by Mr. B. Tucker, occurred at a bad corner on the Totara North road yesterday. Slighi injuries were received by Mrs. Tucker and Mr. Tucker.

Both vehicles were seriously damaged, and traffic was held up for four hours. »•

CAR FAIjLS DOWN BANS.

OCCUPANTS TRAPPED INSIDE.

[by telegraph.—own correspondent.]' HAMILTON, Tuesday. An extraordinary motor accident occurred nejir the Horahora turn-off when Mr. and Mrs. Herring, of Auckland, had a narrow escape from death. Mr. Herring was driving a motor-car in the direction of Rotorua. Another car was approaching the junction in the opposite direction and a third car was standing near tho junction. In trying to avoid the two cars Mr. Herring's vehicle went too close to the embankment overlooking the Waikato River and turned a complete somersault down the bank, It fell about 10ft. when its procress was checked by some trees.

The driver, of the stationary, car, Mr. E. R. Marsn, of Hamilton, was mending a tyre at the time. 'A relative of his, Mrs. T. G. Greening, was standing on a point overlooking the river. She moved away a second or two before Mr. Herring's car toppled over the bank at the point on which she had been standing. Mr. Marsh went at once to the rescue Vj of Mr. and Mrs. Herring, and found them pinned in the overturned car. Ho had the greatest' difficulty in propping up the vehicle and extricating them, owing to the precipitous nature of the ground. With the help of other motorists he got -them out and carried them to the road above. Mr. Herring was not injured, but Mrs-. Herring was severely cut on her head and leg. Her 'condition is not serious.

CYCLIST'S ARM BROKEN. . COLLISION AT FRANKTON. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON, Tuesday. A fracture of the left arm was sustained by Ronald Mason Runiney, aged 18, of Rotokauri, Frankton, in a collision which occurred between a motor-cycle he was riding and a motor-car driven by Mr. R. M. Lewis, of Hamilton, at the intersection of Kent and Empire Streets, Frankton, last evening. Both vehicles were extensively damaged. The injured youth was admitted.to the Waikato HosP ital - CAR STRIKES CULVERT. OCCUPANTS' LUCKY ESCAPE. 1 [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] KAWAKAWA, Tuesday., Two occupants of a motor-car, Mr. A.; Collington and Mr. J. Smith, of Maromaku, had a- fortunate, escape from injury when, as a result of a tyre bursting,, the vehicle left tho road and cutverc. , r _ The car, which was driven by Mr., Collington, was proceeding from M*}* maku down a long hill on the ovr Kawakawa Main Highway. Both ro<suffered from shock. The vehicle > damaged to a small extent and had to _ towed away for repairs.