CHARABANC ACCIDENT

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 8 March 1921, Page 21

CHARABANC ACCIDENT

WOMAN DIES FROM INJURIES. FIFTEEN PEOPLE INJURED. AUCKLAND, March 5. A charabanc, owned by D. Shaw, of Titirangi, when conveying a excursionists to Muriwoi Beach, went through a bridge at Henderson. Five passengers were injured, and one (Mrs Mardale) was removed to hospital. Those injured in the accident are: Miss M. Wilson, of Titirangi, who was pinned under the water (she was restored to consciousness when rescued, after an hour's treatment, and relapsed into unconsciousness in the hospital); W. Shaw, severe internal injuries, bruised head, and shock; Mrs Mardale, broken arm, shock, and abrasions; Richard Paget, cuts and abrasions. Several others are sufferingpfrom shock. The charabanc dropped about, 15ft into the stream, and subsided into the mud, only a few feot of the vehicle being above water. A passage was cut in the top of the canvas cover, through which passengers were assisted to escape. About two-thirds of tho bridge (a small wooden structure) was carried away, the charabanc crashing through stern first. The injured were 'attended to by a medical man who arrived early. Miss Wilson, injured in the charabanc accident, died in the hospital this afternoon. As far a 3 can be ascertained to-day very few of the occupants of the motor ’bus which crashed through the bridge yesterday escaped injury. Miss M. W. Wilson, who sustained internal injuries, died in the hospital. Her father (Mr C. J. Wilson) had a bone in a leg broken. There are three persons in the hospital: W. Shaw, who is suffering from internal injuries and shock; Mrs .Mardale, a broken arm and shock; and Richard Paget, cuts and abrasions. They are reported to be progressing favourably. No fewer than 15 of the passengers sustained injuries was a statement made by Constable Douglas when interviewed. The injuries of those not taken to the hospital were not of a very serious nature, although in the case of one man who elected to b« taken home instead of going to the hospital it was found that a hone of a leg had been fractured. There was a variety of knocks and bruises sustained by other sufferers. When Constable Douglas arrived on the scene about 9.3 C a.m. passengers were lying on the banks of the creek and on the roadside receiving medical attention. Those in the charabanc were all either related to each other or were friends, tha party being taken for a picnic by the proprietors of the motor car, and they resided in New Lynn or Titirangi.