TRAMS HELD UP AS RESULT OF STREET COLLISION

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18643, 21 December 1928, Page 5

TRAMS HELD UP AS RESULT OF STREET COLLISION

CARGO OF BEER EMPTIED ON ROAD.

With a crash which spectators described as “like a clap - ' of thunder,’ a service-car and a motor-van collided at the intersection of Moorhouse Avenue and Durham Street at about 3.30 yesterday afternoon. The service-car, a Buick T bus, owned by Alfred J. Read, Royal Mail contractor, Akaroa, and driven by J. A. Read, was proceeding west along the south side of the Avenue, on its way td Akaroa. The motor-van came out of Durham Street south, bearing a cargo of bottled beer from the Union branch of New Zealand Breweries, Ltd., Bath Street. The van is owned by Em. Smith, of New Brighton, and the driver was A. Chandler. Considerable damage was done to both vehicles. Miss Pollock Smith, one of the three passengers in the car, was admitted to hospital suffering from cuts to the face, and Mr Chandler's mate on the van had a leg injured. Trams into the city were held up for three-quarters of an hour.

The front wheels of the van were on the tramway track when the car struck it in the rear. It was swung round parallel with the tracks, the right-hand rear wheel was smashed off, and the stub of the axle dug into the roadway. Most of the cases of beer were thrown to the ground, and a flood of liquor mingled with the flood of rain-water. A tramway repair gang dragged the van off the lines, and City Council workmen moved the debris with broom and spade. The van travelled only a few feet after being struck. On the car, the bonnet was pttshed off, and the radiator bent round. The bumper-bar, head-lamps, running-board and luggage-carrier were crumpled up. Very little of the windscreen was left. After striking the van, the car swung round to the north side of the Avenue, and travelled about twenty yards past the intersection.

The driver of the car, Mr Read, said that, as he approached the crossing he heard a horn. He looked to the right, but before he had time to look to the left the collision had occurred.