BUS LEAVES ROAD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23134, 5 September 1938, Page 11

BUS LEAVES ROAD

STANDING CAES STEUCK CAREER DOWN BANK PASSENGERS' LUCKY ESCAPE VEHICLES MUCH DAMAGED Miraculous escapes from serious injury were experienced by all concerned in a triple collision on the Great South lloatl, on the boundary of the Papakura Borough and the Franklin County, at about 5..10 o'clock on Saturday evening. Travelling toward the city, a bus from New Plymouth, operated by Gibson's Motors, Limited, and carrying about 10 passengers. struck two stationary and unoccupied motor-cars, after which it ran off the steep camber of the road, coming to rest beside a stout hedge.

M inor facial abrasions and cuts were suffered by two of the passengers, and the others escaped with a severe shaking. It was fortunate tlm bus did not Capsize as it ran off the road and careered down the steep oft. bank to its position parallel with the front hedge of a residence.

Bus Towed to Road The wheels of the bus ploughed deeply through the soft mud at the roadside, and finally stopped in deep water. The left-hand front portion of the vehicle was extensively buckled, and the bus had to be towed back to the road, while the. passengers were transferred to a relief bus. The two motor-cars struck by the bus were parked at the roadside, facing toward the city. It was fortunate that neither of them contained passengers, who might have suffered severely, particularly in one case.

One of the cars, a light saloon, after being struck from behind, swung completely round on the wet concrete, smashing into the side of a coupe and finishing back against a telegraph pole down the bank about Bft. from the road-lino, facing ill the opposite direction. This car suffered the greatest damage, being twisted and'torn almost beyond repair. Ambulance at the Scene The coupe escaped comparatively lightly, the right front mudguard taking most of the blow, although the car was moved several feet and remained at a precarious angle on the bank beside the road for some time after the collision. Practically the next vehicle on the scene of the accident was a St. John ambulance, returning from a trip to Huntlv. The driver, Mr. H. Ryan, was able to minister to the injured at the roadside before continuing his journey with another patient to the citv.

HORSE JUMPS ON CAR

RIDER THROWN TO GROUND FRACTURED ARM SUFFERED ANIMAL RECEIVES CUTS [by telegraph OWN correspondent] "WHAMGAREI, Sunday A compound fracture of the right arm and abrasions were suffered by Mr. John Anderson, aged 21, of Puhipulii, when the horse he was riding became out of control and jumped on to a passing motor-car. The accident occurred at 10.3Q p.m. on Saturday when Mr. Anderson was riding along the main road near Hukerenui.

As a motor-car, driven by Mr. James Sidney Bates, was passing the horse and rider, the animal reared on to the bonnet of the car, smashing the windscreen and radiator and causing other damage. The horse and rider then fell to the ground, and the car stopped almost immediately. A passing motorist brought Mr. Anderson to Hikurangi, where he was attended by Dr. D. Armstrong before being brought to the Whangarei Hospital. The driver and the occupants of the car were not injured, but the car was extensively damaged and could not be driven away. Except for several cuts the horse escaped injury.

VAN ROLLS INTO RIVER DRIVER PINNED BY FOOT PASSING OTHER TRAFFIC [by telegrafh OWN correspondent] MERCER, Sunday The driver of a van which left the road and somersaulted into the Waikato River a few miles north of Mercer on Saturday afternoon, Mr. F. J. McAnulty, of Pokeno, escaped with a slight injury to the foot. Mr. McAnulty was going along the Great South Road toward Pokeno and the accident occurred when he passed two cars travelling in the opposite direction.

The van left the road and after making two complete turns over the bank came to rest on its side partially submerged in the river. Mr. SlcAnulty was imprisoned in the van when one of his feet was pinned by the door and the vehicle had to be lifted before he (*ould be released. After first-aid treatment he was able to go to his home. The van was later lifted out of the river.