A SENSATIONAL SMASH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16941, 16 January 1923, Page 7

A SENSATIONAL SMASH.

TRAMCAR STRIKES MOTOR TRUCK. A VERANDAH WRECKED. A remarkable collision between a tramcar and a motor truck occurred in Colombo Street shortly before noon to-day. resulting in damage to both ihe tramcar and the truck and the ai most total demolition of a verandah in front of thd premises of Wilkinsjn Bros., cabinetmakers. A Ford truck, driven by I/. Hughes. Ashley Bank, was proceeding out ot Dundas Street, the intention of the driver being to turn north up Colombo Street. Witnesses of the accident state that the truck was slowly and carefully driven, and the driver sounded the horn several times on approaching the corner. Hughes hail just got his truck on to the eastern tram track when a Spreydon-bound tramcar. driven by vS. Pepprcll, struck it at about the tool box just opposite the driver’s seat. That the impact was severe is shown by the damage to the tramcar. and by what happened next. The impetus ef the car lifted the comparatively light truck and carried it on bodily with it. the forepart remaining caught on the fender of the car and the rear partially swinging round against the side of the car. The truck bareiv missed a heavy traran ay wire standard on the corner of th-a street, but about three yards further on was an iron standard which formed one of the supports of the verandah in front of th* premises of Wilkinson Bros. The truck struck this and smashed it. tearing it from its setring arid scattering it in several pieces. The next verandah post suffered a like fate, as also did a third, and the verandah, robbed of all support, crashed down on to the footpath. 'File verandah is an iron frame onewit h galvanised iron. It is entirely wrecked. Portions of the verandah Icll on the truck, which came to rest finally in the gutter. The driver .lid | not lose his seat, rnd escaped serious injury. The shelter over the driver’s seat on the truck, a fairly substantial wooden one, doubtless saved him when the verandah fell. The front of the tramcar showed considerable damage. The apron was badly dented and the stout iron former bent, and the woodwork at the side ol the front cabin was smashed in places. The truck appeared to have suffered remarkably little damage, despite its rough handling. The woodwork at Jin side where the car struck it and tho tool-box. which was on the running board, were smashed, and one wheel appeared to have sustained some , damage The truck was, however, r>v no means wrecked. The verandah wiil have to be entirely rebuilt.