CAR CRASHES THROUGH RAILS ON RIVER BANK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17780, 25 February 1926, Page 7

CAR CRASHES THROUGH RAILS ON RIVER BANK.

WOMAN INJURED IN BRIDGE SMASH

MOTOR WRECKED IN 12.30 A.M. ACCIDENT. Crashing through the side railings on the approach of the Fitzgerald Avenue bridge at 12.30 a.m. to-day, a Hudson coach taxi from the Rink Garage came to grief, the engine and most of the fittings being completely smashed. A woman passenger was taken to the Hospital as the result of the smash, but the remaining passengers and the driver, Sydney Milne, escaped injury. The car was going north along Fitzgerald Avenue, the passengers being a party of women. The driver was on the east side of the bridge approach and struck diagonally a 12-foot stretch of heavy iron railing that slanted away at an angle from the bridge itself. The two strong main posts snapped like carrots, and the car went down on to a large concrete sump, about five feet in diameter, that stands above the river bank, immediately beneath the

The railings themselves. together with the front fender of the motor, were swept into the river. Apparently the car then twisted, lying on its side against the sump, until the bonnet was under the edge of the bridge decking on that side. The engine was smashed, all the window’s and glass fittings were damaged, and cushions and seats were piled up in wild confusion, while the panels of the driver's door and the portion of the side of the car near to it, were battered in.

That no one was seriously hurt is. under the circumstances, remarkable. Early this morning No. 2 derrick of the Electricity Department, a powerful hand-manipulated crane capable of handling a load of about 1$ tons, arrived at the scene of the accident, and the car was lifted back on to the road. The name of the woman injured is May Bamfield, married, residing at 196, Salisbury Street. The party were returning from the wedding of a man named King.

(Photograph on Page -1.)"