VIOLENT SMASH

Southland Times, Issue 25314, 18 June 1935, Page 8

VIOLENT SMASH

CAR AND LORRY THREE PEOPLE INJURED FIRE DESTROYS TRUCK (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, June 17. A man and two women were discovered gravely injured soon after 4 o’clock this morning on the Great South road. * They were: Miss Florence Wigmore, aged 20, who was removed to hospital suffering from a fractured skull, and Miss Judy Blake, aged 19, suffering from concussion. A man named George Whitehouse, aged 29, of Palmerston North, employed as an able seaman on the Diomede, also sustained a fractured skull and his condition is grave. The three belong to Auckland and they were in a motor-car which came into violent collision with a motor lorry which caught fire. 9 The collision occurred on a level stretch of concrete near Takanini. The car, which was a light one, was wrecked, and the three-ton truck caught fire and was destroyed; A resident nearby who heard the crash said that immediately afterwards the driver of the truck came to the house and asked for help. When she reached the scene the driver of the car was lying beside the road and was covered by a rug. His clothes had been on fire but the truck driver had extinguished the flames. One unconscious girl" was lying beside the road and another girl was sitting on the side of a ditch talking incoherently. This girl said there was a second man in the car, but although a search was made no trace of him could be found. The girl said the driver of the car had taken her and her friend to Taranaki to exchange a motor-car. The exchange had been made at Mokau and they were returning in a leisurely way when the collision occurred. Another resident said the driver of the car was thrown on to the middle of the road and the door of the car was lying on top of him. There was a burning stream of petroi from the man to the truck, which was about 50 yards away. The spare tank of petrol had been ripped open and the contents had leaked from'the point of impact to where the truck had stopped. A spark from the car had ignited the petrol and the fire ran along the road to the truck, which was loaded with furniture and merchandise. The truck and its load were soon in flames. THE VICTIMS SEAMAN IN SERIOUS CONDITION. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, June 17. The details of the victims and then condition to-night are: Alfred John Francis Whitehouse, aged 29, single, a naval rating in H.M.S. Diomede, a compound fracture of the skull, a fractured arm and severe'burns to the back and legs. His condition is 1 very serious. Mies Florence Wigmore, aged 20, of Kingsland Avenue, Mt. Albert, concussion and a fractured skull. Her condition is critical. Miss Judith Blake, aged 19, of Dominion road, Mount Eden, superficial cuts and concussion. Her condition is not serious.