FATAL COLLISION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 September 1938, Page 4

FATAL COLLISION

CAR & LORRY MEET HEAD-ON. ONE MAN KILLED & SIX INJURED. By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, September 4. One man was killed and six other men were injured in a head-on collision between a motor-car and a motorlorry on the Frankton-Whatawhata road, two miles and a half from Hamilton, at 5 o’clock last evening. The victims were: — Killed. Maurice Desmond Kelly, aged 19, single, a drover of Lake Crescent,. Hamilton. Injured. Edward Skelton Dobbie, aged 21, single, butcher, of Whatawhata; concussion and injury to an eye; condition serious. Ernest Ray Thornton, aged 31, single, labourer, of Te Pahu; fractured skull; condition serious. Stanley Millan, aged 22, single .labourer, of Karamu; concussion and abrasions; condition serious. Parnell Tai, aged 26, married, labourer, of Hamilton; fractured left leg; condition not serious. David Tai, aged 24, married, labourer, of Hamilton; fractured left arm; condition not serious. Albert Smith, aged 32, labourer, of Hamilton; injury to forehead; condition not serious. The motor-car, which was being driven by Mr Thornton from Hamilton to Whatawhata, was occupied by Messrs Millan, Smith, P. Tai, and D. Tai, the latter pair being brothers. The lorry, a two-ton vehicle, was travelling in the opposite direction and was driven by Mr Dobbie, who had Mr Kelly as a passenger. The impact was very severe, and caused the lorry to be forced around in the opposite direction to which it was travelling. The radiator of the lorry was pushed in and the car was reduced to wreckage. St John ambulances were soon on the scene and removed the injured men to Waikato Hospital. Mr Kelly died soon after admission. Mr Smith was discharged after receiving treatment.

Mr Kelly was a son of Mr R. M, Kelly, of Nihoniho, Taumarunui.