A MOTOR SMASH

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2789, 6 June 1916, Page 6

A MOTOR SMASH

. ' ——♦ • THREE WELLINGTON RESIDENTS ' INJURED. . A party returning in a-motor-car last evening .after attending the Otaki races met with a'serious accident. Mr. P. J. Griffin, licenseo of the Greshani Hotel, was driving a Cadillac car, in which were also Messrs. D. Pilmer, P. M'Laughlin (of Melbourne), F. M. Hickey, and 11. H. Skipwith (who had been acting as starter at the races). When the car was crossing an embankment near Te Horo the steering gear broke, and the car swerved and went over the bank. Other motoring parties returning from the races came along immediately, and the work of rendering aid to the occupants of the wrecked car proceeded quickly and expeditiously. It was found that three of the men had fared badly. - They were:—Mr. Griffin, broken arm and injury' to chest; Mr. Pilmer, broken collar-bone and cuts; Mr. Hickey, badly cut about the head, but not. believed to be seriously ""injured. Messrs.. Skipwith and M'Laughlin escaped with a severe shaking. The iujured men were placed in another car, and taken to Otaki, four miles distant.; There they were placed aboard the New Plymouth express train, and brought to Wellington. A soldier on the train, assisted by Mr. P. Dobson, of Melbourne, rendered first aid, and the railway officials did all possible to make the injured men as comfortable as possible until medical attention was available. On arrival at Wellington the injured were taken to private hospitals. On inquiries being made late last night it was ascertained that Mr. P. Griffin was not doing well, and also that Mr. F. Hickey, although conscious, was suffering from wounds on the head which had had to be stitchcd up in ten places.