SMASH IN THE DARKNESS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1080, 20 March 1911, Page 6

SMASH IN THE DARKNESS.

—» CART, MOTOR, HORSE, TILED UP, (By Telegraph— Press Association.) Christchurch, March IS. Just after midnight a somewhat serious accident happened in Colombo Street South, Sydenham, near Tennyson and Strickland Streets. Dr. Terras Bell was driving his motor-ear down Colombo .Street, and, when near Strickland Street, collided with a cart. The impact was a severe one, the front portion of tho car being badly damaged. Dr. Bell, who was alone in the car, was pinned against tlic seat by the steering gear, and was mi' able to extricate himself from his unpleasant position. The cart had two men in attendance, was carrying the regulation lights, and was on its right side of tile road at the time of the accident. Tha two men who were with the cart wero standing on the footpath beside a gate. Dr. Bell was travelling on the tramline, which turns somewhat to the right side of (lie road going towards tho hills. His car was carrying (he usual lights. It was raining at the time, and the mist on the glass windscreen appears to have obscured his view of tho obstacle in his path. It is stated also that a motorcycle, carrying' a bright acetylene light, had passed the motor-car immediately before the collision, and that this bright light Jiad tho effect, of dazzling the doctor's sieht to a. certain extent. 'The car ran rig'it into the,horse under his front legs, so that the animal was piled up on the ear alongside Dr. Bell. Tho sound of tho impact was natural'/ very loud, and a crowd of people sooc assembled from the neiglilxiuring houses. Dr. W. 1?. Browne, of Sydenham, was telephoned for, and ho removed Dr. Bsll to his (Dr. Browne's) home, as the injuries which lie had received were too severe to permit, of his being taken at once to his own place on (he Ca , -)imcro Hills. .He was found to have three ribs broken, and to have been badly cut nbout tho hands and arms, besides sustaining a severe shook. He remained in Dr. Browne's house until lie had recovered sufficiently to permit of his being taken l»amo. The horse attached to the cart talongcd to Mr. A. Howard. It was cut about tho legs and injured internally. Mr. Howard considers that he will have to destroy it. He assesses its value at .O). The/damage to tho motor-car will (so a motor expert states) cost about _ .Cl2O to repair. The engine seemed uninjured, but all t]y ; other metal work ia front of the cat was torn off, and tho windscreen was smashed and twisted. The impact of the collision tha cart, and a number of men started operations at ail early hour to put the road in order again for traffic.