MOTOR ACCIDENT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 190, 24 July 1940, Page 5

MOTOR ACCIDENT

TRAIN AND BUS COLLIDE , ACCIDENT AT AWAKERI • While returning from Rotorua tc Opotiki on Saturday night, a Rail way Motors bus driven by Mr S. Peck; and containing the Opotik junior representative footballers was involved in a collision with r goods train at the railway crossing near the Awakeri railway station. The train was proceeding from Tar catua to Tauranga and the big bus had almost crossed the line Avhen it was struck about three feet from the rear by the locomotive. The body of the bus w r as badly twisted and several windows were broken .while'the rear portion was crushed in alongside the rear seat. The -captain of the Opotiki footballers; Mr Paddy Chambers, received slight concussion and was admitted to the 'Opotiki hospital. Several of the ■other footballers received a severe shaking. Mr Jim Sheeran had a narrow escape as only a few minutes before he had been sitting against the portion of the bus* which was crushed. Another member of the team who had been sitting on the some seat moved up to the front of the bus and Mr Sheer•an lay down on the seat with feet towards the side of the bus ■which "was hit. He received a severe shaking when the bus was hit by the train. The bus, which was only damaged on the body and tail', was -iible to proceed to Opotiki untljer "its own power.