SENSATIONAL CRASH

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20640, 1 February 1937, Page 6

SENSATIONAL CRASH

TRUCK HITS IRON FENCE DRIVER MAKES OFF Mystery enshrouds a sensational motor smash which occurred at the intersection of North Street and Craigie Avenue about 9.45 last night, when the driver of a light delivery truck made off after the vehicle he was driving had torn down about 15 yards of a high corrugated iron fence with which it collided. According to two eye-witnesses of the accident who were walking among the trees near the comer the motorist was coming down Jraigie Avenue at a high speed and when approaching the corner he applied his brakes, the truck skidding across the intersection. It mounted the footpath on the north side of North Street and slewed up against the fence with a terrific crash, but the driver was apparently unhurt for he jumped from the cab immediately and went up North Street in a westerly direction and disappeared into the night. The back of the truck was loaded with sacks containing empty bottles and old iron, the greater part of the freight being hurled on to the fpotpath. A heavy iron stove was thrown right over the Bft iron fence, landing in the back garden of the occupant of the corner residence. The pavement was littered with broken glass, old sacks, pieces of iron and fruit. Truck Badly Damaged The near side of the truck was badly damaged, the left hand front wheel, which apparently struck the fence first, being doubled in two, while the rear one also was badly buckled. Practically all that remained of the windscreen was a few jagged oieces of glass and the left hand door was In a similar state. By some chance the headlamps were not broken and all the lights, including the dash, were still going after the driver had disappeared. On the floor of the cab were found two empty beer bottles, two crown tops and a glass. Liquid appeared to have been spilt on the floor. An examination of the marks on the road showed that the brakes were applied about 30 yards from the fence and wide scars on the bitumen seemed to indicate that when the driver attempted to turn, the front wheels locked and the truck careered straight across the street and into the fence. The resounding crash attracted a fairly large number of spectators to the scene and the question which was asked on all sides was how the driver managed to escape injury sufficiently to enable him to run away. The registered number of the truck was L 4-795, but it was impossible to establish the identity of the owner last night.