GORE FATALITY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 June 1942, Page 2

GORE FATALITY

PLANE CRASH IN STREET PILOT DIES OF INJURIES. TWO OTHERS IN SERIOUS CONDITION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, June 11. An Air Force pilot died of injuries and four civilians were injured, two seriously, when a plane of the Royal New Zealand Air Force crashed in the main street of Gore this morning. The casualties were: — Died of Injuries. Pilot Officer Geoffrey Thomas Coldham, sole occupant of the plane; father, Mr George Stewart Coldham, 4 Tawera Road, Green Lane, Auckland. Seriously Injured. June McKenzie, shop assistant, Gore, serious head injuries, condition serious; father, Mi’ J. C. McKenzie, Riversdale. John Leslie Anderson, railway engine driver, William Street, Gore, bad scalp wound and concussion, condition fairly serious. Injured. Ronald Hill, shop assistant, Gore, fractured leg and shock; father, Mr R. S. Hill, Broughton Street, Gore. Leonard Frank Shave, shop assistant, Broughton Street, Gore, scalp wounds, condition not serious.

The plane crashed during E.P.S. cooperation exercises. A big crowd had gathered to witness the exercises, and when the accident occurred the main Street was lined with people. The machine struck the ground at the Irk Street intersection. It slewed to one side after the impact, swept on down the west side of the main street, crashed into a car and then came to rest against a lorry at the Mersey Street intersection. The pilot, who was gravely injured, was pulled fi'om the cockpit by a constable. Three of the injured persons, Miss McKenzie and Messrs Anderson and Shave, were standing just south of Irk Street when the crash occurred. Further down the street, Mr Hill was struck by a wing of the plane. Members of the various medical and ambulance, units were quickly on the scene and gave first aid to the injured. The injured were-removed to hospital, but the pilot died before the hospital was reached. The driver of a car, Mr B. N. Smith, a mail carrier, had a very lucky escape from injury. The plane struck his car almost head-on, and bounced ovei it, coming to rest against a truck owned by Gore Rialto, Ltd. The truck was driven by Mr B. Windle. The car was badly damaged, and slight damage was done to the truck. Neither Mr Smith nor Mr Windle was injured.