HEAD STRIKES POLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21254, 6 August 1932, Page 8

HEAD STRIKES POLE

TRAM CONDUCTOR'S DEATH LEANING OUT OF THE CAR ACCIDENT AT ONEHUNGA Fatal injuries were received by a tram conductor, Mr. George McLean, aged 60, when his head came violently in contact with a centre-pole in Lower Queen Street, Onehunga, at about three o'clock yesterday afternoon. Mr.. McLean was leaning from the back platform of the tramcar when the accident occurred. The tramcar, which was outward bound, was driven by Mr. E. O'Neill, of 41 Onslow Road, Epsom. The motorman stopped at the pole bearing the timeclock and on receiving the signal from the conductor to proceed, drove on to the terminus, a short distance away. Both Mr. O'Neill and the two passengers on the tram, a boy and another motorman who was off duty, were unaware that the accident had occurred, but on arrival at the terminus tho driver found, the conductor was not on the car. He commenced the return trip and on arrival. at the clock pole found Mr,.. McLean lying near by. The St. John Ambulance was summoned and Mr. McLean, who resided at 25 Quadrant Road, Onehunga, was taken to the Auckland Hospital. He was dead on arrival. He was married and had one adult daughter. He had been iq the tramways service for about nine years. The time-clocks on the various tramway routes were introduced nine years ago. Short poks bearing the clocks were erected on the kerb-line, and in order to register the time, motormen had to leave their cars and cross tho road. Complaints were received from motormen concerning tho danger of, being struck-, by passing traffic, and also tho • inconvenience in wet weather, and finally a motorman was killed while crossing to punch the clock at the fo(3t of Farmers' Hill, Great South Road, and another was injured similarly in Ponsonby Road. The clocks were then transferred to poles set between the two sets of tracks, the change-over being made nearly seven years ago. The accident yesterday was the first in which a tramwayman has been injured at a timeclock since the alteration was made.