Serious Vehicle Accident.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVIII, Issue 14881, 14 October 1912, Page 2

Serious Vehicle Accident.

Mr.Leslle Meade Injured.

During the busy portion of Saturday evening, when the traffic on Te Aroha roads was fairly heavy, a serious "accident occurred at the Bridge approach, which resulted in Mr Leslie Meade, of Te Aroha, being very seriously injured. The particulars of the accident are not easy of ascertainment, because of the absence of actual eyewitnesses, other than the parties who were involved in the collision. It appears that two vehicles —alleged to have been without lights —met in the approach to the bridge, one, a sulky, driven by Mr. W. Lockyer, proceeding from Te Aroha; while the other, driven by Mr. Earl, was approaching the town. Owing, it is supposed, to some misunderstanding on the part of the drivers, a very forcible collision occurred, in which the sulky was considerably damaged—the seat portion being wrenched off, a shaft being smashed, and the axle broken oft on the near side of the wheel box. Mr. Lockyer’s horse, excited by the smash up, galloped towards home, with one shaft attached to the harness. At this moment, Mr Meade, who was driving to Te Aroha in a sulky—hearing the sound of the collision, drew towards the side of the road, and quickly jumped out to hold his horse s head. He had just accomplished this, when the runaway dashed by, and the broken shaft attached—rebounding from the road struck Mr Meade a stunning blow, completely destroying an eye, severely bruising the face, and causing con. cussion of the brain. A young lady, accompaning Mr. Meade, alighted from the vehicle and fortunately escaped injury. The injured man was taken to Dr. Kenny's residence, and afterwards removed to Glencairn Private Hospital. The severe injuries to the eye necessitated its removal by Dr Kenny, the operation deing performed yesterday morning. This morning the patient was still unconscious, and at times delirious. General sympathy has been expressed for Mr Meade over the most unfortunate occurrence, it being felt that he was the victim of a collision in which he Was not concerned.