MOTOR SMASH AT PAPANUI.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1927, Page 3

MOTOR SMASH AT PAPANUI.

CHRISTCHURCH. July 21. After having had decidedly the worst of a violent collision with a Ford car at the corner of Craddock’s road and the Main North road, Papanui, last evening, a big Hupmobile car was burned through the carelessness of a bystander, who. after lighting a cigarette or pipe, threw clown a match into a pool of petrol lying along the gutter. A trail of petrol led from the point of the collision to where the car ended its short journey after the smash, and this hurst into a sheet of flame, rushing towards the car, which was totally destroyed. Hie smoker who was responsible for the finishing touch and the dramatic climax vanished in the crowd. Mr J ames Dunlop Wyllie, of Setton.l was the owner of the car destroyed. .Mr Wyllie and party had been to the ploughing match at Lincoln and reached Styx a little before 6.30 p.m. Coming citywards was a lord car. belonging to Mr S. Mutton, ol the ( arlton fruit shop, Christchurch. and driven by his son. Mr A. T. Mutton. As a passenger in this car aiso was Mr .). Isherwood. of Christchurch. lhe two cars crashed violently. Ihe bigger car was slewed completely round and badly smashed tin, ending on its side in the middle of the roadway. The passengers had a lucky escape, the only one to receive injury being one of the sons, Mr J. B. Wyllie. who was considerably cut about, particularly on the hack of the head. The violence of the impact caused the passengers of both cars to he thing out oil to th eroad. Mr Isherwood being shot out some distance. lhe burned cai was insured with the London, Liverpool and Globe Insurance Company. The climax to the accident did not occur until about a quarter of an hour after the collision. A large crowd had collected, and the person responsible for the blaze was one of the late-coinera on the scene. A motor-cyclist who, in his eagerness to see all that was going on, took his machine too near the trail of blazing petrol had his front tyre burnt, and Mr Wyllie. senior, burned the goloshes he was wearing considerably in an unsuccessful attempt to put out the fire