5 DEAD; 7 HURT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22339, 26 May 1947, Page 4

5 DEAD; 7 HURT

WHAKAfH SMASH AGONISING SCENE LIKE BATTLEGROUND SUFFERING OF VICTIMS (S.R.) WAIROA, May 26. Another yi ctirn the bus collision tragedy near Wliakaki on Saturday morning, Mrs. Hine Campbell, has died, bringing the death roll up to five. Of the seven persons injured the condition of two is critical. The victims were:— KILLED: Mrs Daisy Howard, aged 46; wife o£ Mr. Trevor Howard. Miss Brenda Carey, aged 22, daughter of Mrs. Carey. Palmerston South. Mrs. Okeroa Raroa, aged 20. wife of Mr. Rumbo Raroa. Miss Sophie Mita, aged 30, daughter of Mrs. Pani. Mrs. Hine Campbell, aged 35, wife of Mr. Sydney Campbell. INJURED: Miss Mary Walker, aged 22. daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mo Walker; concussion and shock. Mrs Mary Mita. aged 36. wife of Mr. Joe Mita; severe facial injuries and shock; condition very serious. Miss Waitangi Hawkins, aged 11, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jury Hawkins; extensive arm injuries and fractured pelvis; condition very serious. Mrs. Molly Babington, aged 26, wife of Mr. William Babbington; fractured pelvis; condition very serious. Miss Messines Walker aged 24, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mo Walker; concussion and shock. Roberta Howard, aged six. daughter of Mrs. Daisy Howard, who was killed; internal and leg injuries; condition serious. Rebecca Gemmell, aged 30 months, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sydney Gemmell, Opoutama; shock. All are of Nuhaka unless otherwise stated. Driver Suffers From Shock At present the cause of the accident is still unknown. The driver of the bus Mr. Denby Boyd, although uninjured, is suffering from severe shock and has been unable to make a state ment. The bus, which was carrying upwards of 30 passengers, suffered severe daiSage, the right-hand side being completely torn out and seats were ■wrenched from their sockets. A remarkable fact was that the engine of the bus did not suffer damage, and when the killed and injured were removed it was able to proceed under its own power back to Nuhaka. Mrs. Henrietta Harrison, a passenger stated the whole party was engaged in singing choruses. She was facing the opposite way when the impact occurred and sang out to the driver: “You’ve had a blow-out. Denby." On turning, Mrs. Harrison was shocked to see the complete side of the bus being torn away. Seat Given Up

Another passenger had taken a seal belonging to another player and when told of it. decided to stand. The woman who took the seat was one of those killed instantly. A tragic feature of the death of Miss Brenda Carey was- the fact that in order to keep faith with the club she had returned to Nuhaka only on Friday night after attending the funeral of her lather in Central Otago. The first on the scene of the acci dent was Sister Murray, district nurse at Nuhaka. who rendered, outstanding service in attending to injured and doing her best to make them comfortable in very trying weather, it being bitterly cold with heavy, driving rain. When she arrived the bodies of the victims were lying on the roadway and in the bus. The injured were all in severe pain, some being pinned beneath the fittings of the bus and under the bodies of other victims. The first man to arrive was Mr. G. W. Powdrell, a nearby farmer, wtio after notifying the police went to the accident. He aided Sister Murray in her work among the women and sent those who were '.'.Die to proceed to his home on the lorry concerned in the accident, which was undamaged. Medical aid and police were sent from V/airoa. An ambulance arrived shortly afterwards and conveyed the injured to hospital, where special preparations had been made for their reception

Victims’ Suffering

“It was like a battle scene.” stated another person who reached the scene ot the accident later. “One ot the women, Mrs. Babbington. was lying in a ditch filled with water bv the side of the road while others were lying on the side of the road, their groan* being pitiful. The injuries to those killed were extremely serious. Those who escaped gave their coats and pullovers to the * unfortunate passengers who had been hurt.” The party in the bus comprised two Nuhaka hockey teams, three chaperons and six children, the driver being the only male. They were cn route to Wairoa to take part in a special tournament lor a number of trophies. An inquest was opened yesterday morning before Mr. T. Sweetman, J.P.. and a jury and after evidence of identification was given was adjourned sine die. The bodies of four of the victims have been taken to Nuhaka, while that of Miss Carey will be interred at Palmerston South. The funerals will take place tomorrow. A tangi is now being held and is exceptionally largely attended. The bereaved have received many messages of sympathy, including one from the Prime Minister. Mr. P. Fraser, and messages from other Cabinet Ministers. Mrs. Howard was a well-known resident of Nuhaka for a number of years. She took an active part in Presbyterian Cnurch work, particularly in connection with the Maori race. She was actively interested in hockey and was travelling to Wairoa with a hockey team as chaperon when she and four others met their deaths. Before her marriage she resided in Gisborne for many years. She was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Gardiner, Ormond road. Surviving relatives include Sister May, Auckland, and Messrs. A. R. and R. K. Gardiner, Gisborne.