CAUGHT IN TRAM WHEELS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 738, 10 August 1929, Page 1

CAUGHT IN TRAM WHEELS

Woman’s Agony in Accident

QUEEN STREET TRAFFIC HELD UP

LYING on the roadway wedged between a centre pole and a tram, with one foot badly torn as it was caught between the wheel and the centre box, an elderly woman suffered agonising pain in a sensational accident in Queen Street at midday. It is believed that the victim of the accident has suffered a compound fracture of the right leg. The limb is badly cut * and amputation will probably be necessary.

It is believed that the woman had alighted from a tram going up Queen Street at the safety zone on the corner of Victoria Street, and Kalfced behind it to cross over to the west side of the street. Midway between the two sets of rails B he was caught between tram No. J 56, coining down, and No. 91, a Mount Eden tram, going up and driven by Motorman Mullen. Witnesses state that the woman was struck by one tram and thrown ngainst the other. Her foot probably slipped on the greasy roadway, and She fell between the Mount Eden tram and the pole, with one foot beneath the tram. The motorman promptly applied his brakes, but the accident could not be averted. The woman’s right foot was caught jn the front wheel and apparently dragged until her ankle was securely wedged against the brake-block on the outside of the wheel. Dr. W. S. Brockway was soon on

the scene and, assisted by ofHcers of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, gave the woman what relief he could during tne 12-minute wait before the tram could be jacked up. One member of the crowd administered brandy and the woman was conscious for at least some time following the accident. Happening immediately after noon, the accident attracted a large crowd, and there were several thousand onlookers struggling to catch a glimpse of the injured Woman. Both lines of trams were blocked and there was a line of ears extending from Victoria Street to Customs Street on the one side, and up Queen Street a considerable distance on the other set of rails.

According to hospital officials there is no means of identifying the woman who is unconscious. She was unaccompanied at the time of the accident. She is an elderly woman, grey-haired, and wearing a black coat.