Father And Son Killed; Jib Fouls Power Lines

Press, Volume C, Issue 29503, 3 May 1961, Page 14

Father And Son Killed; Jib Fouls Power Lines

A father and son were killed instantly by an electric shock in a field at Islington about 2 p.m. yesterday after a jib on the back of a truck fouled three 11,000-volt power lines. The men were: WILLIAM WARD, aged 71, and his son, WILLIAM DOUGLAS WARD, aged 30, both of whom lived at 202 Hills road, Shirley. Mr Ward, jun., was single.

i vau, kiiu* ivy. ■» The two men operated a contracting firm which waa erecting poles for a new 33,000-volt power line between Islington and Brookside for the Springs Ellesmere Electric Power Board. They were using equipment supplied by the board. The accident occurred in a paddock belonging to the New Zealand Refrigerating Company, Ltd., at the end of Wilsons road, Islington. A three-ton truck, with a jib of about 18ft erected on the back, was driven under three 11.000-vqlt power lines which feed the Yaldhurst, Burnham, and West Melton districts. Mr Allan McCall, of 12 Bickerton street, Wainoni, who is employed by the firm, was driving the truck. The other men shouted to him that the jib had fouled the power lines. The truclf, which

had passed very close to one of the concrete poles supporting the lines, to give the Jib maximum clearance, was stopped. Mr Ward, sen., who was walking beside the truck, placed his hand on the metal door handle of the truck, and was buried to the ground, unconscious, by the shock. His son rushed over and father, who was lying beside the truck. It is believed that Mr Ward sen., gave a convulsion, and his son’s head struck the live truck- Both men were killed instantly when the power surged through their bodies Their bodies were very badly burned, and the left front wheel of the truck caught fire. An employee of the power board, Arthur George Williams. of 375 Main South road, Hornby, who was on a tractor which was rigged with a post hole digger, rushed away to obtain assistance. A local doctor arrived quickly, but found that he could do nothing. Mr McCall had the presence of mind to leap from the cab of the truck, so that his body did not form an arc

i between the vehicle and the ground. He was taken to has : home suffering from shock. The power board truck has a wooden jib which is held in i position by thick wire ropes , which run from the top to the deck. I TTie board's engineer, Mr S. E Slatter. of 23 Hei Hei road. Hornby, heard of the I tragedy on the radio-tele- ■ phone installed in his car. i and went to the scene. i A senior engineer of the New Zealand Electricity Department. Mr Frank GeogI began, of 9 Gresford street. ! examined the site. I The power supply over a ' fairly wide area was cut off while the truck was driven clear of the lines. t Mr Ward, sen., was em- : nloyed by the New Zealand Electricity Department until ■ his retirement some years ■ ago, and his son also served i his cadetship with the dei partment. I An inquest will be opened . before the Coroner (Mr E. B. ■ E. Taylor) this morning, and I will be adjourned sine die 1 after evidence of identification has been given. Constables G. A. Hillyer i and J. Cooper, of the Central i Police Station, went to the ! scene of the accident.