SHOCKING FATALITY IN WELLINGTON.
Lady Run Over by a Motor
Fire Engine
Instantaneously Killed
Her Daughter Seriously Injured
A shocking occurrence took place on Lambton-quay, Wellington, at about 1.40 p.m. yesterday, resulting in the instantaneous death of Mrs Amy Kensington, wife of Mr W. C. Kensington, Under-Secretary for Lands, and serious injury to her daughter, Miss Louisa Kensington.
The deceased and her two daughters, Misses Louisa and Olive Kensington, were proceeding homewards along Lambton quay when the Fire Brigade motor engine, which was proceeding to a fire in the Botanical Gardens, came along the quay, and turning sharply from the quay into Bowen-street dashed into the ladies as they were passing over the Bowen-street crossing.
The front of the car struck Mrs Kensington, knocked her over, and the machine passed over her prostrate body, scattering her brains over the ground. The left-hand side wheels must have passed over Miss Louisa Kensington's left leg, for it received a compound fracture.
The car was pulled up in its own length, and what assistance could be rendered under the distressing circumstances was offered. The police ambulance was summoned from the station across the road, and Mr Quinton at once summoned a doctor. Drs Pollen and Izard were soon upon the scene, and the body of both the deceased lady and her injured daughter were removed to the family residence in Hobson Crescent.
The man in charge of the motor states that when he saw the ladies they were nearly half way across Iho Bowen street crossing, and seeing that they were proceeding northwards, he guided the car to run between them and Quinton's corner. Then when they went back he swerved slightly to clear them on the other side, but they started forward (northwards) again, getting right in the track of the motor (which was then proceeding at a rate of between eight and nine miles per hour). When he saw an accident was inevitable he applied the two internal expanding biakes, and pulled the car up in three or four yards. Had the ladies gone on when they first heard the bell or had stopped still, no accident would have occurred, but the flurry the ladies got into made his task a most difficult one.
The brakes were on before tbe car struck the ladies. This statement is borne out by the fact that when it was brought to a standstill the rear part of the car was just clear of the body, and the motor had to be moved on a little to get at the deceased.
The driver was a skilled motor-man and motor engineer, and has been in charge of the brigade motor since October 26th. He ha 3 been connected with the motor-car business for the past ten years, the last seven of which he has been driving—for some time on the Rotorua-Taupo-Napier service. He states that this is the first accident he has ever had. When the accident occurred Mrs Kensington was in front, another lady was a little to the left (Miss Louisa Kensington), and the other lady, who was uninjured, was to the right of ihe car. The car weighs three and a-half tons, and with the four men on board must have weighed between that and four tons. This weight, travelling at the rate of say eight mile 3an hour, would carry considerable impetus even after the brakes were put on.
A greaser, employed at the Ngahauranga Freezing Works, saw the accident. He was standing in front of the Chinamen's shop, a few yards from Quinton's, when he heard the bell ringing, and saw the car running along the quay. He saw the ladies on the crossing, and heard someone call out " Look out!" but the ladies dodged backwards and forwards in a hesitating manner, evidently very flurried, as the car rounded at a reduced speed to go up Bovven-street. The car was pulled up promptly.
Besides the driver and the Deputy-Super-intendent, two members of the Fire Brigade were on the motor-car at the time of the accident. A preliminary inquiry into the cause of the death of Mrs Kensingon will be held at her late residence, Hobson-crescent, at noon to day. Only the formal medical evidence as to the cause of death will be taken, after which the inquiry will be adjourned until to-morrow afternoon to give time for the collection of evidence bearing on the accident.
It is understood that Mr W. C. Kensington (for whom a great deal of sympathy will be felt) was among those who walked across from the Government Buildings to ascertain the nature of the accident which had taken place, and vthkh attracted a large and excited crowd to the locality.
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