Railway Road Bus Crashes; 35 People Hurt
WESTPORT, Last Night (PAL— Neither the driver (Mr. John Kelly), nor any of the 34 passengers in a road service bus travelling from Granity to Karamea on Saturday, escaped injury when it suddenly left the road in the vicinity of the .Taffytown Hill and crashed into a bank. The accident occurred on a fltt stretch of road and it is believed to have been caused by a defect in the steering gear. When the bus hit the bank the impact was very severe, and the passengers were thrown over two seats in some cases, while others were pinned under the wrecked portion of the vehicle and could oniy be extracted with some difficulty. Most of the passengers were members of the Granity Band and they were proceeding to Karamea to play at a gala in aid of the Granity Queen carnival. It was some time before the news of the accident could be got to Westport, or Karamea, because of the isolated portion of the road on which the crash occurred, but in answer to urgent calls, ambulances and mine rescue waggons and other vehicles were sent from all parts of the Buller district with doctors and nurses. On Saturday afternoon the 35 injured people were treated at the Buller Hospital, where 28 were operated on for fractures, several of a serious type. A call was immediately sent out by the medical superintendent (Dr. D. R. Ryder) for blood donors and nursing assistance, and there was a ready response, enabling the surgical work to be carried out with a minimum of delay. Those on the serious list this morning were: Mrs. R. Petrie, severe head injuries. Mrs. A. Mann, head injuries and a fractured left arm. Mrs. Hansen, multiple compound fractures. Mrs. P. Power, multiple lacerations and concussion. Mrs. Alfred Nuttall, penetrating wounds to the chest and lung. The other injuries range from minor fractures to abrasions. Among those less seriously injured are Mr. Vern. Goodall a former South Island Rugby selector; Mr. Arthur Mann and Michael. Joseph and Ronald Easton, three boys from one family.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WC19481129.2.27
Bibliographic details
Wanganui Chronicle, 29 November 1948, Page 4
Word Count
353Railway Road Bus Crashes; 35 People Hurt Wanganui Chronicle, 29 November 1948, Page 4
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