A MIDNIGHT SMASH.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 128, 6 July 1914, Page 10

A MIDNIGHT SMASH.

THREE PEOPLE INJURED. A CRASH OF CARS. A serious collision between a taxi cab and a motor cycle and side car happened -at Buxton's corner, Burwood, at about 12.30 on Sunday morning. As the result of the collision the rider of the motor cycle and the two young ladies who were occupants of the side car are now in hospital. The motor cyclist is Mr John Henderson, and he states that the car which collided with him was showing no lights and was on the wrong side of the road. He and the two young ladies with him had been to a party at St. Albans and were returning to Sydenham just after midnight. He had taken two occupants in the side car because one of the ladies, Miss Olive Buick, had missed her car, and he. therefore offered to take her home. But by some mischance he missed his way, and thinking himself in Richmond Road he found himself instead in an unfamiliar district and halted the machine to find his bearings. The night was misty, but there Was no dense fog, and his machine was carrying an acetylene headlight and a sidelight. Just as he pulled up the machine, remarking to his passengers that he was certain he was on the wrong road, the taxi cab crashed into them, dragging the machine for a considerable distance and smashing it completely. Mr Henderson is .positive that the car wa3 showing no lights and was on its wrong side coming from New Brighton, and lie says that immediately after the smast the driver backed out, turned his car, and drove back in the direction of New Brighton. But one. of the occupants of the car got out and came back to give assistance. He did not give his name, but he informed Mr Henderson that he, did not know the others in the car, but had been given a lift homewards by them. He gave what assistance he could, and Mr Henderson, who fortunately has some knowledge of '' First Aid," gave his atfention to his two passengers, although he was very badly bruised and cut. Miss Buick had one lQg broken in two places, in the foreleg and in the thigh, and the other young lady, Miss Ivy Turner, had a dislocated knee. Help was obtained from a house near by, and a message was sent to town for a motor car. It was found that Miss Buick's injuries were too severe to permit her removal in a car, and so an'ambulance was obtained from the Rink stables, and in the meantime Miss Turner and the unknown helper returned to town in a car, Miss Turner being taken to a private hospital. Miss Buifek and Mx Henderson were taken to the City Hospital in the ambulance, arriving there about 2 o'clock on Sunday morning; .Though ha received a severe shaking and was badly bruised, Mr Henderson is hot so badly injured as to keep him in bed for many days, Miss Turner's injuries are also comparatively slight, though bad enough Miss Buick, however, will not be about for many weeks, though from enquiries made at the hospital this morning it is learned that she is progressing very favourably. The matter was reported to the police, who at once proceeded to make enquiries, and yesterday morning the • driver of the car was.. found to be Witty, a taxi cab driver. In his statement to the police he said he -was driving along the tramline from New Brighton"'arid had two sidelights burning. He did not see the motor cycle until he was right on it, and then he shouted; "Look out," but, it seemed, without the eyelist noticing. It

was practically a head-on collision, but lie was travelling at a speed of only ten miles an hour, and he was able to stop hie car in such a manner that he did not carry the cycle and side car on at all. One of his passengers got out and went to lopk after the injured, and he turned his car round and stopped some distance from the scene of the accident while another of his passengers went to investigate. He returned with the information that there were several people looking after the occupants of the cycle and side car, and that a doctor had been sent for. The driver stated that he did not tliink it necessary to make a personal investigation, and so returned to town. Henderson states that his motor cycle was struck on the front wheel, slewed round and dragged along, and that he had all his brakes on when the collision happened. The cycle and side car are completely smashed, and the taxi cab was found to -have a twisted axle, a bent starting handle, a dented bonnet, And one mudguard crumpled.