Fatal Coach Accident.

Opunake Times, Volume XXV, Issue 947, 8 February 1907, Page 2

Fatal Coach Accident.

A CHILD KILLED. Greymouth, February 4. Quite a sensation was caused in town to-day when word was received that one of the Christchurch-Otira coaches had capsized, and the infant son of Mr and Mrs Scott had been killed, and the other passengers injured. As 80 passengers left in the morning by train, relatives were eagerly seeking news, but none of an authentic nature could be obtained. Word was received that a special train would arrive from Otira at 9.30, and the station was lined with people. It was found that only Mrs Scott, Miss Kellar and the dead child were passengers, the others in the coach proceeding to Christchuroh by special coach. Miss Kellar, on being interviewed, stated that the passengers were Mrs and Mies Condon, Miss Mussin, Miss Schaef and child, Mr Meyer, Mrs Scott and child, Miss Kellar, Mr Davis, Mr and Mrs Home. The passengers had just taken their seats on the coach after climbing to Otira Gorge. When the coach started down hill, they rounded the first turn safely,- but at the second the king-bolt broke and the coach capsized. The horses were going vary fast. All the passengers were thrown outi of the coach except Mrs Scott, who clung to the coach and held ber child. She got caught and was dragged fully two hundred yards, the child getting the back of its head knocked in. Mr» Scott was badly injured internally. The coach broke right in half, and the horses bolted with part of the coach. The driver, Eastgate, escaped without injury. The passengers were more or less bruised, but not seriously, and were able to proceed on their journey. Mrs Scott and the little dead child were convened from the station to Mrs Keilars on a stretcher. The sad affair has cast quite a gloom over the town. The infant was five months old.