ONE KILLED, FOUR INJURED NEAR AMBERLEY

Press, Volume C, Issue 29507, 8 May 1961, Page 12

ONE KILLED, FOUR INJURED NEAR AMBERLEY

A man was killed instantly and four persons were injured when four vehicles were involved in an accident on the Main North road north of Amberley, near the Glasnevin lime works, shortly after 6.30 p.m. on Saturday. The man killed was: Samuel James Lee. aged 67, single, a retired farm hand, of Mo f unau.

Three cars had been involved in two comparatively minor accidents when a fourth crashed into one of the stationary vehicles, which had a trailer attached. Constable W. T Green, of Culverden, and Mr Lee were standing between the trailer and the car. Contable Green saw headlights approaching, shouted a wa'ning, and •c'rt out of the way The approaching vehicle crashed head-on into the car.

The four injured persons, who were admitted to the Christchurch Hospital, are Bert Hodgson, of Waikari; Kake Gerrard, of No. 3 RD. Amberley; Robert Kaiwai, of the Waipara Hotel; and Albert Keith Burrows, of No, 3 R D., Amberley Mr Burrows suffered head and chest injuries, and the others head injuries. The condition of Messrs Burrows and Kaiwai was reported last evening as satisfactory. Mr Hodgson’s condition was reported as comfortable, and Mr Gerrard’s as quite comfortable. Two of the cars involved

were wrecked, and the other two were damaged.

The series of accidents began when two cars were involved in a minor collision Soon afterwards a third vehicle struck one of the cars. No-one was injured in these accidents. About that time the Culverden St. John Ambulance, driven by Mr R. G- Noonan, superintendent of the Amur! division, arrived. Mr Noonan was taking a patient, who was fairly seriously ill. from Culverden to the Christchurch Hospital. After the fourth accident Mr Noonan called the Canterbury Automobile Association’s base radio-telephone station, at the home of the association’s chief service officer (Mr B. A. Anderson). Mr Anderson relayed messages to the Culverden St. John Ambulance radio station operated by Mr T. E. Rhodes, and got in touch with the Christchurch St. John Ambulance station and Dr. J. A. Dick, of Amberley. A second ambulance was sent from the Rangiora St. John Ambulance station. Mr Noonan gave all assistance he could, and the man who appeared to be most seriously injured was taken to the Christchurch Hospital in his ambulance. Constable Green was accompanying the ambulance from Culverden to Christchurch in a car when he came upon the accident.

A large crowd gathered at the scene, and the road was blocked for some time. Vehicles banked up on either side of the accident. Constable T. Iles, of Wtiikari, helped to direct traffic. Mr Noonan had done a wonderful job in giving aid to the injured, said Constable Green yesterday. Mr Noonan said he wished to thank those persons who had supplied coats and blankets and had assisted him.