ONE BY ONE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25160, 24 March 1945, Page 6

ONE BY ONE

MOTOR COLLISIONS SMOKE OBSCURES ROAD INJURIES TO TWO MEN Five motor vehicles were involved in a series of collisions when smoke from a grass fire obscured visibility in Great North Road, opposite Chamberlain Park, Western Springs, at about 4.30 p.m. yesterday. Two people were injured, one seriously. They were:— Mr Robert Smith, a driver, aged 34, single, of Golf Road, New Lynn, head injuries. He was admitted to the Auckland Hospital and his condition last night was serious. Mr John Goddard, mechanic, aged 29, of 6 Ward Street, New Lynn, injuries to the face. He was treated at the Auckland Hospital and discharged. Two motor-cars, a hearse returning from a funeral, an Army breakdown truck and a passenger bus were travelling to the city in that order when they were enveloped in the smoke. The Hirst car was stopped and was struck by the second, both vehicles being slightly damaged. The hearse drew up behind the second car and was hit by the breakdown truck. This in turn was struck by the bus, which was proceeding from its depot to begin a service. The hearse and the bus were extensively damaged. Both the injured men were in the bus, which is owned by the Auckland Bus Co., Ltd. Mr Goddard was driving it to the city prior to handing oyer to Mr Smith for the passenger service. Traffic in both directions was helcl up until control was assumed by police who arrived within a few minutes. Meanwhile the Point Chevalier fire brigade was engaged in fighting the grass fire, which was in a vacant section and which took about three-quarters of an hour to extinguish. The bus had to be towed away, but all the other vehicles | were able to proceed under their own power.