FATAL INJURIES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20093, 24 November 1930, Page 11

FATAL INJURIES.

DIRT-TRACK RIDER'S DEATH ACCIDENT AT MONICA PARK. A fatal accident marred tke opening of the fiirt-track racing season at Monica Park on Saturday evening. As tlio result of a fall from his machine, while competing in a race, George Chambers, aged 21, residing at Gcbbic's Valley, suffered grave injuries. He was picked up unconscious, and was rushed to the Christchurch Hospital, llis condition did not improve after liis admission, and he died at 11.-io o'clock last night. He had never recovered consciousness.

Tho accident occurred in the semifinal of the second division handicap, with Chambers and C. Kennedy on the last lap of the mile. Chambers, in turning the bend into the back straight, rode high up towards the safety fence bordering the racing path. He appeared to strike a rut or bump on the track, which jolted him badly. What happened after this even onlookers could scarcely tell. A moment afterwards Chambers was lying prone along the petrol tank of his motor-cycle with his head hanging over the handle-bar, while the machine, with the inert rider, scraped and bumped along the safety fence for some yards. Probably th? fence kept the cycle upright. It went along for about 70 yards after Chambers s collapse, before it turned over, throwing the unconscious rider heavily on to the track. Chambers slid for ten yards on the track after falling". The large crowd looked on silent and hor-ror-stricken, whilo officials rushed to pick up the young man, who, overybody realised, was very badly hurt. He was carried away unconscious on a stretcher, and all haste was made to get him to the hospital. It is possible that the bump ovpiwhich Chambers rode jolted him sM3c.cntly to cause him to strike his head on the handle-bar, and that this blow was sufficient to cause unconsciousness. In support of this theory there is the evidence of a gash on Chambers's forehead. The speed, and the uncontrolled mac|:inc bumping the rider against the t'ence. and the fall, caused the graver injuries. Other observers thought that the jolt sustained by Chambers caused him to lose control momentarily, and that lif was not unconscious until he struck the fence. Chambers had had success at the broadsiding sport. He was classed as & second division rider, last year having been his first season. He had alreadywon several races.