MOTORIST’S WILD DRIVE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2217, 18 December 1920, Page 2

MOTORIST’S WILD DRIVE.

PEOPLE SERIOUSLY IN,WEED

COLLISION WITH A TRAM

At the time when the main thoroughfares of Wellington city were well filled with, people from the emptying theatres and picture houses on Wednesday night, a motor car,, seemingly out of control, its only occupant the driver, dashed up Willis Street and along Manners Street, and finally came into violent collision with the step of a stationary Iranicar at the corner of Cuba and Manners Streets.

The running board of the tram was smashed to pieces. Some who saw the accident slate that people endeavouring to enter the tram car were Hung - in all directions. Two lads wore struck, but were only slightly hurt. The motor ear slewed round in front of the tram, and collided with unsuspecting people there who were rushing across the road to catch an Island Bay car,

Two persons were seriously injured : Miss Stubbs, of 15(i, The Parade, Island Bay, who sustained a compound fracture of the left leg, and who was rendered unconscious; and Mr Norman Beck, of 46 Derwent Street, Island Bay, who was cut over the left eye,'til the back of the head, and who was generally bruised about the body.

Miss Alma Oliver, of 102 Clyde Street, Island Bay, received injuries to her legs; and Mr Thomas William Steele, of 478 Adelaide Road, had his leg sprained.

Miss Stubbs and Mr Beck were removed to the Hospital, and Miss Oliver and Air Steele were taken to their homes in motor cars. Four other persons were bruised, but less seriously hurt, and were able to do without assistance. THE CAR’S WILD CAREER.

The speed of the car as it dashed into Willis Street from Featherstou Street first attracted attention. A constable standing at the time at Stewart Dawson's corner slates that the tyre on the, right front wheel shot off, and that the ear swayed from side to side' of the road as it careered along. Its speed increased, and, turning into Manners Street it narrowly escaped coming to grief at Perrett’s corner. Along Manners Street the crowds were thickest, and the driver, proceeding at a speed which was said to be forty miles per hour, but was probably less, was heard shouting: “Get out of the way!” People in the street, seeing the danger, shouted’on the warning to those further up the street, Many turned and ran along, after the car, fearing the inevitable/'*'

Nearing the Cuba Street corner, where wailing groups were standing, and a tram car was stationary, the motor swerved towards the curbing. But the car struck the Irani, any! swung around in front, with the unfortunate results already stated. SCENE OF CONFUSION. For a few minutes, with people thrown in all directions, and others rushing excitedly in to see what had happened, confusion reigned. Miss Stubbes and Air Beck lay under tire front part of the car, having received the full shock of the impact, When extricated they were semiconscious, and their injuries were seen to be serious.

Senior-Sergeant M’Namara was on the scene a few minutes after the accident, and it was not long before Commissioner o’Donovan and other police were there. The driver of the car meanwhile had disappeared. The Hospital and Harbour Board ambulances were a t once summoned and promptly arrived, and the two serious casualties, after first aid had been rendered by Drs. Steele and Whyte, were sent to the Hospital.

For a while tram (raffle was suspended along Manners Street, the cars being ■ diverted down Cuba Street. It was some time before the excited crowd dispersed. The police, noting the number of the ear, made inquiries, and ascertained later in the nigln, that the name of the driver was believed to he Clark, of the Ilealthatoriiuu, Lyall Bay. , IN A CRITICAL CONDITION.

The accident created quite a sensation in the city, and the peculiar circumstance- attending it were freely discussed. The, latest reports from the Hospital was that both Mr Beck and Miss .Stubbs were still in a critical condition. The former had regained consciousness. Both were successfully operated upon. MOTORIST ARRESTED. Charles Joseph Clark, the driver of the car, was arrested on Thursday on a charge of causing actual bodily harm to Norman Beck. At (he Magistrate’s Court yesterday, accused was charged with having caused actual bodily harm to Norman Beck, under circumstances which, should death ensue, would render him liable to a charge of manslaughter. Upon Chief-Detee-live Ward asking for a remand till *23r<l instant, Mr M. .Myers, for the defence, asked that Clark should he kept under medical observation, as. it had been found necessary to de- , tain him in a. mental hospital on pre- • vious occasions.