WELLINGTON BUS TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 18 October 1927, Page 2

WELLINGTON BUS TRAGEDY

By Telegraph—Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Oct, 17. Several women were injured and one killed, unidentified, when a motor bus running from Khandallah to the city crashed into a telegraph pole at Kniwarra at neon to-day. The driver Jno. AleCullough said the wheel spun out of his hand. He suffered a tew abrasions. The bus was practically wrecked. WELLINGTON, Oct. 17. An eklorlv woman was fatally injured, two others were seriously injured, others suffered minor hurts, when one of the 801 l Hill Bus Company’s buses, hound from. Khandallah to the city, crashed into a telegraph polo a few hundred yards on the northern side of the Kaiwnrra railway bridge, just before noon to-day. The dead woman is Airs Annie Eleanor Watson, of 31, Grove Bond, Kelburn. She .suffered terrible injuries and died within half an hour of admission to the hospital. Airs Watson was the. widow of the late Captain D. .T. AVatson. Afiss Gertie Bradley, of Station Road Khandallah, and Airs Frazer, of Awarua Street, Ngaio, were taken to the hospital. They are in a serious condition, but their injuries are described as not being critical. Airs Harry Bradshaw, aged -10. of York Avenue, Khandallah, and Airs Stevens, aged 30, of Raimi Terraco, Khandallah, are among those who were less seriouslv hurt.

Mrs Grace Clothier, of Ottawa Road. Ngaio was admitted to the Hospital at 3 p.m. with a broken wrist. The other victims of the accident, after being cared for at the houses of some railwaymen living near the scene of the mishap, were able to return to their homes. All tlio occupants of tlie bus about a dozen women, were hurled out on to the footpath amidst a shower of broken glass, and pieces of splintered wood, which covered the road for a radius of many yards.

Tho bus seats and fittings were twisted into almost an unrecognisable mass, and some remarkable escapes from more serious injuries wore experienced.

Such was the force of the impact that the telegraph post with which the vehicle collided, snapped near the top. and was shifted some inches out of position. Tho lius left the bitumen about thirty yards hack, and struck the telegraph pole first with the front right hand mudguard. The full force of the impact, however, was received near the first seat inside tlie door, where it is understood, the late Mrs Watson was sitting. The pole tore the side out of tho bus, which came to a stop, with its wheels on tho footpath, in its own length. In a statement made to Patrol Constable Morrison, Driver John O’Callaghan of the bus, said that the steering wheel slipped from his hand. An examination of the bus after the accident showed that the steering gear was not defective. WELLINGTON, Oct, 17.

Tho corrected names of the victims of to-day’s bus accident on the Hutt Road are :

Dead—Mrs Annie Eleanor Watson, widow, aged 51 years, of 31, Grove Road, Kelburn. Seriously injured—Mrs Frazer, of Ngaio; Miss Gertie Bradley, of Station Road. Khnndnllah, severe head and body injuries; Miss Grace Clothier, of Ottawa Road, Ngaio, broken wrist.