TRAM TRAGEDY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 June 1943, Page 3

TRAM TRAGEDY

ONE PASSENGER KILLED TWENTY-EIGHT OTHERS INJURED. CAR OVERTURNS IN WELLINGTON (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Resulting in the death of an airman and injuries to 28 other people, one of the worst tram accidents in the history of Wellington occurred at the intersection of Coutts Street and Onepu Road, Kilbirnie. shortly after 7 o’clock on Saturday night, when a heavily-laden car proceeding toward the centre of the city left the rails and crashed on its side. Fourteen of the injured are detained in hospital, eleven at the public hospital and three in the hospital attached to an air station. One of those in the public hospital is stated to be in a serious condition. The dead man was: — Leading Aircraftman James Edward Kerr, R.N.Z.A.F., whose parents reside at 197 Talbot Street, Geraldine. L z Ac. Kerr, who was 27 years of age. died shortly after admission to the Wellington Public Hospital, from his injuries, a fractured base of the skull and laceration of the brain. The injured, who were admitted to the public hospital, were: — Sgt. Frank Butler. R.N.Z.A.F. (fractured rib, injury to liver and pneumothorax —condition serious). Miss C. Anderson, R.N.Z.A.F. (suspected fractured jaw). Mrs Ayres, Seatoun (fractured arm). Miss Jean Luxford, Seatoun (injuries to back). Mr Donald McLean, tram motorman. Kelburn Parade (head injuries). Mr F. Ratcliffe, Kilbirnie (injury to shoulder). Mrs Ratcliffe, Kilbirnie (suspected fractured ribs and concussion). Miss Betty Smith, Gaudin Street (suspected fractured leg and abrasions). Jack Smith, Gaudin Street (fractured pelvis and wrist). Mr Frederick Such, Seatoun (incised head wound). Miss Betty Tait. Seatoun (injuries to back). Admitted to hospital at an air station:— Aircraftman J. R. Bridgeman, R.N.Z.A.F. (shock). Corporal B. J. Child, R.N.Z.A.F. (shock). Pilot Officer T. R. Pauli R.N.Z.A.F. (head injury and fractured left clavicle). Treated at the public hospital or elsewhere and returned to their homes: Mr George B. Carr, Kilbirnie (injury to head); Morris Elliott, aged 12, Seat'oun (incisions to hands and hip); Raymond Elliott, aged 14, Seatoun (nose injury); Mrs Mihail, Miramar (shock); Master Mihail, Miramar (cuts to hands); R. E. Roberts, R.N.Z.A.F. (shock); Mr Stafford Robinson, Seatoun (not stated); Miss Clare Ryan, Miramar (incised scalp wound); Mr Alfred Shilling, Seatoun (broken clavicle); Mrs Frank Tait, Seatoun (incised wound to forehead); Mrs Wheton, Seatoun (head injuries); Miss June Wilson, Seatoun (abrasion to head); Mrs Wyndrum, Seatoun (not stated).

CAUSE OF ACCIDENT It is stated that the number of passengers was about 100. From the descriptions of eye-witnes-ses it would appear that the'front bogie of the car, instead of proceeding straight on across the intersection, as the car was routed, began to take the turn right-handed northward into Onepu Road. The rear bogie, however, seems to have taken its proper course across the intersection toward the continuation of Coutts Street, with the result that the wheels of both bogies left the rails and the car developed a sideways skid with the tail swinging round past the front, finishing its movement by crashing over, upon what had originally been its near side, on the pavement at the corner diagonally opposite to that at which it had entered the intersection. TRAPPED INSIDE. Having swung round in its skid, the tram fell on the side on which the doors were open, so that it was, for a time, not possible for those who rushed to the scene to reach those injured and trapped inside, many of whom were screaming for help. Almost immediately men clambered on the top of the wrecked car and broke in some of the windows. They began to lift out injured and uninjured. Almost simultaneously a rescuer obtained an axe, and crashed in the window at the conductor's end of the car, affording an opening through which badly wounded cases could be brought, out. On January 3, 1920, three men were killed (including a Mr McEwen of Masterton) and 10 persons were injured when a tram ran away down Pirie Street, and crashed at the junction with Brougham Street, the motorman having suddenly collapsed.