MOTOR SMASH

Hokitika Guardian, 21 March 1927, Page 1

MOTOR SMASH

FIVE INJURED. [by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS association.] WELLINGTON, March 19. A serious collision occurred oil the Halt Road, about half wav between Petone and the city at 12.11 p.m. today. resulting in severe injuries to Mrs Prater, aged III! years, of Stone Street, .Miramar. Four others are less seriously injured. The names of the injured are:— Mr Prater, who sustained cuts about the nock. He is 35 years of age. and is employed in the Municipal Milk Depot. Airs Prater, who suffered injuries to the back and logs. She was reported this afternoon to he in a serious condition.

Mr William Cragg, aged 24, who resides at 19, Windsor Place. He was cut about the head. -Mrs. Cragg, his wife, who received cuts about the face. Miss Jellcrmati, aged 23, of Dillon Street’, Blenheim, who was badly cut about the face. Prater and Airs Cragg will, it is expected. he able to go to their homes this afternoon, hut the others will have to remain in the hospital. A light five-sea ter motor car was o:T its way to the races. It was driven hy .Mr J. A. AV. Prater, employee of the City .Milk Depot, who had four passengers. It was proceedink towards Petone behind a motor bus. The driver of the motor-car, in, is stated, swung out to pass the bus, intending to go between it and a two-ton lorry, belonging to Messrs Curtis Bros, and driven hy Jack Deslamles Cross, which was coming into town on its right side of the road. As there was not room between the. bus and the lorry, it is understood that Prater crossed right over the road and endeavoured to pass the lorry. Both vehicles were going fairly fast, and the heavy lorry, striking the left wheel of the car, broke it off and shore into the body of the car, almost cutting it in two, and completely wrecking the engine, and turning it over. ’l’he front fender of the lorry was severely bent on its left side, and the left lamp and mudguard were wrecked. The occupants of the motor car were thrown under it. Air B. S. ATorisson, Traffic Inspector on the Hutt Road, was some fifty yard behind the motor car when it swerved out from behind the motor lorry, and saw all that happened. Afr Aforrison, assisted hy Cross, at once proceeded to extract the injured people and laid them oil the cycle track, making them as- comfortable as possible with coats and wraps.

Dr Giescr hapepned to pass, and he rendered all the attention possible at the time. Air E. Page. S.AL, who also passed, sent for an amhuhincee, which conveyed the sufferers to the Wellington Hospital within half an hour after the accident. Late this afternoon there was no change in tile condition ol Airs Prater.