EXTRAORDINARY COACH COLLISION.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2394, 18 November 1880, Page 3

EXTRAORDINARY COACH COLLISION.

The particulars of an extraordimu-y coach accident arc published in the “Patea Mail,” and from the somewhat unintelligible account there given we extract the following :—“ On the previous day the down coach from Ilawera, containing an extra freight of passengers, while descending the cutting to the Manawapoua bridge, dashed with such force against the north buttress of that structure that the king-bolt gave way, and the four horses carried off the pole and fore-wheels. On the box were sealed by lljc driver F. H. Brett and another passenger. These two were thrown over tha bridge into the river 60ft. below, and the driver was pitched on to the roadway. Mr Chalmers, who was on the top of the coach, was also deposited in the river by the shock. Mr Brett, in falling, struck the rail of the bridge, and received some internal injuries. Air Chalmers took refuge on a snag, but the others had no such protection, and struggled to get a footing on the face of the steep rocks. They were eventually got out by the driver, Mr Owen (one of the inside passengers) and others. Mr Brett appears to be the only person seriously injured. Besides Mr Owen, there were four ladies and two children in the inside of the coach, but beyond getting a severe shaking and fright they were uninjured.”