ROAD DANGERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 October 1940, Page 4

ROAD DANGERS

UNDER BLACKOUT RULES IN ENGLAND THREE NEW ZEALANDERS j KILLED. TWO STRUCK BY PASSENGER BUSES. (Received This Day, 10 a.m.) (From the Official War Correspondent with the New Zealand Forces in Great Britain). LONDON, October 3. The danger on English main roads in a blackout has been dearly demonstrated to New Zealand troops during the past few days. Inquests were completed today on the deaths of two members of a South Island battalion, Private David John Evans and Private Norman George Heads, who were fatally injured ..in successive nights, by being struck by passenger buses. The findings were accidental death, with no blame attachable to anyone. Both accidents occurred when the men were returning to camp from evening leave, each time during an air raid, when the buses were wholly unlighted except for small side-lamps (which by a regulation must not throw theii- beams forward) and taillamps. Private Evans and a companion, Private Archibald Laing, were walking homeward along the left side of the road, in order the better to pick up the side road leading to their billet, when they were struck from behind. Private Evans died in hospital shortly after his admission and Private Laing was sent to hospital with severe leg injuries. Private Heads was one of a party crossing the main road to reach their billet, when the men were distracted by searchlights on enemy aeroplanes overhead and antiaircraft gunfire, and so failed to see or hear a bus which struck two of them just as they were reaching the far side of the road. Private Heads died in hospital the next night, without haying regained consciousness. The authorities are still investigating the death of Sergeant Clem Wareham, the Wellington Plunket Shield cricketer, who, when crossing a narrow village street in a blackout, was struck by a fast-driven motor car and killed. The car braked and skidded after hitting Sergeant Wareham, but did not stop. The inquest was adjourned for further police inquiries. All three soldiers are being buried with full military honours.

A Southlander, Major Leckie, temporarily commanding the battalion, has been promoted to temporary Lieuten-ant-Colonel.