FATAL ACCIDENT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20829, 10 September 1937, Page 8

FATAL ACCIDENT

TIMARU MAN KILLED FELL 40 FEET OFF BRIDGE SCAFFOLDING COLLAPSES By Telegraph—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, September 9. One man was killed and three injured when part of the scaffolding of a bridge on which they were working near Springfield this afternoon. A fifth man escaped by gaining a hold on the bridge. Those involved in the accident were: Killed John Owen Macer, aged about 60, married, of 21 Woodlands Road, Timaru. Injured William Laurence Stoddart, aged 32, married, of 176 Durham Street, Christchurch, compound fracture of the left arm and fractured ribs. His condition is satisfactory. Albert Samuel Crewe, aged 38, married, of 64 Keppel Street, New Brighton, fractured arm and ribs and concussion. His condition is satisfactory. Eric Austin, aged 27, single, of Darfield, fractured nose and tibula abrasic s. His condition is satisfactory. The accident occurred about 1.15 p.m. at a bridge crossing the Kowhai River about a mile and a half past Springfield, on the West Coast side. A beam supporting the planking on which the men were standing broke, and four of them fell about 40 feet on to dry shingle. A fifth saved himself by seizing part of the bridge as he fell. The four men were taken to Springfield by train, where they were attended by Dr C. E. Reid, of Darfield, but Macer died almost immediately on arrival. He suffered a fractured leg and his skull is also thought to have been fractured. A St. John Ambulance conveyed the injured men to the Christchurch public hospital, where they were reported to be in a satisfactory condition this evening. All men were employees of the Railway Department. The bridge which, is reserved for rail traffic, was being reinforced, and the work is still proceeding. It is thought that a cross grain in the beam may have caused the accident.

An inquest into Macer’s death will be opened to-morrow.