MOTOR SMASH ON RANGITANE BRIDGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2972, 8 December 1925, Page 2

MOTOR SMASH ON RANGITANE BRIDGE.

CAR AND CTTAR-ABANC COLLIDE. When making the return trip from Foxton on Sunday evening, a car came into collision with Messrs. Madge Bros, bus on the narrow wooden bridge on the Palmerston Xorth side of the Orona river. The ’has was almost across the bridge when a seven-sea ter sedan motorcar on its way to Foxton from Palmerston North ran on to the end ot lhe structure and collided with the heavier vehicle. The driver of the car apparently noticed the bus on the bridge and swerved to the side of the approach, applying the brakes to bring his machine to a standstill and allow the ’bus room to pass. The brakes, however, failed to act promptly and the driver had to run on to the bridge or crash into Ihe railings, which would have meant going into the creek. Tie therefore took the former course and although the car was nearly at a standstill, it was too late to escape the impact. The car contained three lady passengers, two children and one man besides the driver, Air. .Jennings, of Oban. One lady, Mrs. Pink, of Levin, was seated next to the driver, and it was she who received the most severe injuries, the wind screen being thrown on to her head with great force so that the glass cut her face in sc\oral places. The driver was more fortunate, although he too received a few scratches on the face. Fortunately, no one else was injured and Airs Pink was quickly taken to Foxton to have her injuries attended to, after which she was remoied to the residence of her relative (Ah' George King, of Avenue Road). The radiator of the car was badly twisted and could not be driven, so to dear the bridge it was necessary to pul! the vehicle about twelve feet to the roadside. The char-a-banc, which contained a full complement of passengers, was also damaged to the extent that it could only he driven in a straight course, so the picnickers were obliged to wait until another vehicle was sent out from Palmerston North before continuing their journey homewards.

On inquiry this morning we were informed that Mrs Pink is making satisfactory progress towards recovery and’ will he about again in a few days.