COMPLICATED SMASH-UP

Otago Witness, Issue 3148, 15 July 1914, Page 4

COMPLICATED SMASH-UP

SERIOUS COLLISION IN CHRISTCHURCH.

A collision between a taxi-cab aricl a motor cycle -with side-car attached, involving severe injury to three young people, occurred about midnight on Saturday at Buxton’s corner, on the New Brighton road (says the Christchurch Press). Serious charges have been made by the cyclists as to the conduct of the taxi-cab driver after the accident, Mr John Henderson, on his motor cycle, with Miss Olive Buick and Miss_ Ivy Turner in the side-car, were returning from New Brighton. At Buxton’s corner, a taxi-cab, which they declare had no lights, and was on the wrong side Of the road, suddenly loomed up in the darkness, and before Mr Henderson could pull aside it was on top of the party. The cycle and side-car were smashed into a tangled mas. Mr- Henderson was pinned between the side-car and the cycle and the girls were thrown on to the road.- The driver of the according to the statements of the cycling party, made n<s remark as he crashed into them, but quickly hacked his car out, turned round, and made oft in the direction of the city. Mr Henderson and the two girls state that they were lying on the road for fully half an hour before their cries for help were heard by . e . occupants of one of the houses in the vicinity. When help arrived it was found that Miss Buick had her left leg and left hip broken. _ Mr Henderson was severely cut a hd bruised all over the body; and Miss Turner had a knee dislocated, and was also badly bruised. They were all suffering from shock and from the effects of the exposure in the frosty night. The ambulance was obtained from the Rink Stables, and Mr Henderson.* and Miss Buick were taken to the Christchurch Hospital, while Miss Turner was sent tef a private hospital. The accident was inquired into by the police on Sunday morning. Frederick George Whitty, the driver df -the taxi-cab, interrogated, said that when the collision occurred he was driving on the tram-line, was on his right side, and had two side-lights burning. Pie did not notice the motor cycle until it was right- on him. He called * Look out,” but the other man did not appear to notice him. The collision was pract.cally head on, but he stopped his car, which had been travelling at 10 miles an hour, in such a manner that it did not push the bicycle and side-car .back at all. Immediately after the collision, he backed out his car for about 20 yards, and then turned round the block and came back to Buxton’s corner about 40 yards’ from the scene of the accident. One of his passengers got out of the car when the collision rook place and stood by while he went round the block. He then / got another of his passengers to go and see how things were, and that man returned in a few minutes and said there were several people there, and they were doing what they could for the injured, and understood a doctor had been sent for. They felt certain that no good couH be done by remaining and so drove back to town. He did not think it was necessary to go and ascertain personally the extent of the accident. The taxi-cab was only slightly injured, a twisted axle, bent starting handle, and . dented bonnet covering the damage. There is a conflict of evidence between tha driver of the taxi and** the others,-as to- who was at fault. Whitty asserts that he was oh his right side', while the others state that he was not, and that he had no lights. It is stated that important evidence has been obtained from persons who examined the wheel-tracks of the taxi cab. The police are having a plan prepared of the scene of the accident, showing the relative positions of the taxi-cab and the motor cycle. So far as is known at present, no action has been taken in regard to any arrest in connection with the collision.