LORRY CAPSIZES.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1921, Page 4

LORRY CAPSIZES.

SALVATION ARMY PARTY’S NARROW ESCAPE.

Sixteen members of the C ity ( orps of the Salvation Army, seven ot whom were ladies, had a wonderful escape from serious injury when returning to Christchurch after a function at Oxford on Wednesday night. The party were travelling in a motor-lorry. \N hen coming on to the Eyre Bridge on the Mniuleville Road the driver, whose vision was obscured by a dense tog, missed bis direction and ran the lorry into the side of the bridge. The vehicle was capsized on to its side. Fortunately there was a ho. d on the lorry, and there lis little doubt that this saved the members "I the party from the worst consequences of such a mishap. Had ii not been for the hood those in the lorry would have been thrown in all directions, and some might even have been hurled over the bridge into the river below.

As it was the experience was trying enough, especially for the sisters. Those sitting inside the lorry 101 lin a heap inside the ho.d and one of tin* seats fell on lop ni them.

..Yh. ii the parlv had exM mated theiuees it was found that no one had

eibeied injury beyond a few Io nises and ; severe shaking. The diiver and two , <>ii uho v, ere. 1 -silting wit!i him on Lite .- lit no re I .rowil dear ami e- eaped

wjth.mi serious injury. However, the predicament of the pari;. - was Rtu

, inci (I :is t hoy woio v. itii ;i capsized lorry 0:1 .1 hn.oly 11 >,.< 1 ': .1 11 ;;ii bout fi < r 1.; i £ 1 11 i 1 1 1 . ,\ vi: 1< .VI'S I >;l i< I In 11 !! •■! I - 1* Ill'll r I ;itid {!u‘ occupiers ollcred MlO S-alvu-tiiiiiists every hospitality. Meanwhile : l.e male moo 'ois of I lie party had lieen v. orbing on llie capsized lorry uitli 0 view to fifilitinit. Alti*r strenuous elforts they manured 10 ye! the vehicle oil to its v. luck again. AI! hough t e limy was cunsidi rbaly damaged the engine was still ill 1111111 inorder. The party thereioie decided to continue their journey though it took some persuasion to induce the ladies to trust themselves to the lorry again. Ihe re mainder of tla> journey was made without mishap, hut very slowly, as the engine was not in very good trim. IN hen .Marshland was reached about I o’clock in the morning the engine broke down altogether. One of the party then went to the home id' Mr E. d. Trenberth. a member of the Army, who lives close bv. Mr Trcnbortli got his motor-cat out and took tin* party to their several homes in the city in two relays. It was a tired, bruised, shaken hut thankful hand of Salvationists who tit last reached Christchurch about the time that the early milkman was going his rounds. A Salvationist who was in the loriy that capsized told a reporter that the experience was most trying, hut they were thankful that they had escaped so well. The lorry capsized light in the centre of the bridge. Had the lorry, in falling, struck the side of the bridge it might have crashed through into the river below. The whole thing happened verv suddenly ,aml those sitting inside were thrown into a heap before they knew where they were.