COACH ACCIDENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 157, 2 January 1912, Page 4

COACH ACCIDENT.

" TOPPLES OVER BANK. SEVEN PASSENGERS INJURED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Ohristchurch, Last Night. A disastrous coach accident occurred' at 4.20 this afternoon at Paddy's Bend,, two miles, beyond the Cass. Seven people were injured, most of them seriously. They -are; Archibald Neil (Westport), ibruises on head and shoulders, sprained ankle. Mrs. Neil (Westport), injuries, to book. (J. W. Birl«y (Christchvurch), injuriesi to bajck and chesty shoulder dislocated. Mrs. Birley( Christchurch), chest injured. Pat Blirke (Brunner), two fingers crushed and riteinjured. Mrs. Hopgood (Paroa, Hold- : 1 tika), injuries to back and chest. John; Hambleton (Diuiedin), scaly wound, The coach, which belonged to the Moynihan station, was proceeding with •several passengers to the Rass railway station to catch the evening traift for Ohristchurch. The coach had on hoard fourteen people, including two infants. Half of these were Injured, the others having a miraculous escape. At Paddy's Bend, a dangerous roadcorner with a down hill road, a trace snapped 'and the horses' galloped, and in a moment the conveyance had pitched over the bank and dropped thirty feet down to a Tock strewn stream below. The coach was smashed to pieces. iSome Of the passengers on the boat seats jumped clear, but those inside were carried down. The horses, bolted, dragging one ol their number who had fallen behind them, and which afterwards had to be shot. 'Fortunately, other coaches werrf dose at hand, and the injured were ' given first aid and conveyed to Campbell's refreshment rooms, at the Casa, where Constable McHolm and Mr. Guinness, the stationmaater, did a lot of useful work. Several of the passengers, seen by a reporter, also spoke in strong terms of praise of the efforts of Mr. A. R. Blank, who, right from the jump, took the leading hand in assisting the sufferers, and continued in this direction right up t# the time .of their reaching ChristchurclL The Ohristchurch train was delayed a 1 couple of hours at the Cass, and the injured were conveyed to Christchurch, thr.ee in stretchers in the guard's van. At DarfieJd Dr. Walter Thomas, «f «■ Ohristchurch, boarded the train and. rendered .relief. In the meantime the hospital authorities had been communicated with, and when the .train arrived' at Aldington shortly before 10 o'clock, the ambulance was present and the injured men were conveyed to the Ohristchurch hospital. Though their injuries are serious, it Is hot. anticipated that they will ba fatal fn. any of the cases.