A COASH ACCIDENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1918, Page 2

A COASH ACCIDENT.

— ON OTIR-A GORGE.

(Grey Argus.) Tlie arrival here, an hour late, of the overland express last night was the iesult- of an accident of a rather soiious character occurring yesterday afternoon to one of the coaches on toe Qtira Gorge. The mishap, which happened this side of the hill-top, about a mile from Otira, wag due to the breaking of the king-bolt. The vehicle overturned and the passengers and driver wore all thrown out, A number were injured, in a greater or lesser degree, but the escape from a fatality is dno doubtless to the fact that the collapse being less sudden than in the circumstances might have been exoected was almost miraculous. The mos, serious result was that in the ease of Sergeant Halligan, a returning soldier. on his way to his home at Reefton who sustained a double fracture of the arm ami some injuries to the head. Another soldier, Private Bnllman, who was likewise returning to his home at Reeftion, also sustained rather severe 'juries : while a lady passenger has her wrist sprained. The driver, "ho is stated to have been thrown out upon his head, got a severe shaking, ana all the remaining passengers were also more or less severely shaken, Uml all the remaining passengers were also shaken more or less severely, hut escaped further injury. The departure of the express was somewhat delayed at. Otira and the Reef ton train awaited its arrival at Stillwater, where the injured soldiers were transferred and later on Sergeant Tlailigan was taken to the Reef ton Hospital, and Private IJutlmaii to his homo at Reef ton. The news of the accident caused much concern m town last night until it became known that the results were less serious than at first reported and than they m : ght quite conceivably have been.