A TRAMWAY SMASH

Hokitika Guardian, 5 January 1920, Page 2

A TRAMWAY SMASH

THREE MEN KILLED. 'rim PIIRHH AKNOrfATlOV.—copyright;) WELLINGTON, Jan. 4. A shocking tram accident occurred on Saturday evening at the corner of Brougham and Pirie streets, resulting in three men being killed and several others injured, more or Jess seriously. 1 It jp assumed that the motorman named Small must have lost control when the car left the Kilbirnie Tunnel j bound citywards, for it bolted down the steep grade and left the rails shortly before peachip g }Le bend- The ear crashed the fence and burst if.s way half into the motor shed, turning over op tlic near side.

The crash of th)e impact, the shrieks of the imprisoned passengers and the crjps of fhe injured could he liparji for a coppiderahie distance. Very soon plenty of assist ancp was available. The front part of flip car was badly wrecked and the motorman was found hapging over the switches with his neck broken.

I A wpmRH passenger says .she notieec the niotorman leaning forward over tin switches as the car rushed downin']!, anc the suggestion made is that he lost consciousness. The conductor says he applied the hand brake at the hack of the car, when no notice was taken 0! the emergency hell, hut it then had no effect. The names of those killed are: Alfred MeEwan, 45 years of age, a carpenter bv trade and recently from Pahintua a passenger; and James Evans, a clerk in the Base Records, a bystander. The .injured include Erica Evans, daughter of the last named, a girl ton vears of age, cuts on the bead, and Conductor Frederick Quayle, cut oil tbo back.