SERIOUS TRAM SMASH AT AUCKLAND.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1236, 19 September 1911, Page 5

SERIOUS TRAM SMASH AT AUCKLAND.

FATAL RESULT. CARS AND. A LORRY INVOLVED. (By Teleeranh.—PrcES Association.) ' Auckland, September 18. A shocking aocident occurred shortly after G p.m. to-day on tho Mount Eden tram lino, resulting in ono passenger named Henry 'Williamson, a resident of Mount Eden, being killed instantly, and sovcra.l others receiving more oc losa severe injuries. It appears that two outward-bound cars were ooncorned. The first of those, mining down 'hill, passed a lorry, which pulled off tho track to let it go by. Tho driver of tho lorry, not noticing tJic second car behind, pulled back on to tlie track, and tho train struck tho vehicle in the rear. Tho blow smashed in the front of tho car, disabled tho air brako and tho controller gear, and almost pinned tho motorman, who was just ablo to struggle clear, and make for tho back of tho oar to put on the hand and track brakes. Tho lorry, with its two horses, was carried along several chains, and finally thrown clear, tho driver receiving a wound on tho head, and one of tho horsca being so injured that it had to bo shot. Tho speed of tho disabled car was, howover, now such that tho brako power available in tho timo was not sufficient to stop it on tho incline, and it crashed into tho rear of tho tram ahead of it just as tho latter was pulling un at a stop, and tho passengers were about to alight. Tho ends of both cars wero smashed in, and Williamson, who was on tho rear platform of tho stopping car, was caught ill tho. smash and his skull wa6 fractured, causing almost instantaneous death. Tho passengers in tho runaway car were all thrown about, and the confusion was' the greater, as, shortly before tlio second collision, t'ho pole left tho line, and throw, tho car into darkness. Tho most seriously injured wore James | A. Sneddon, of Mount Eden, who sustained slight concussion and a number of wounds, oho of which caused great loss of blood, and Miss Clark, of Mount Eden, who had I her face badly cut. Other passengers sustained minor injuries and shocks.