CRASH OVER BANK.
MOTOR LORRY FATALITY.
ONE KILLED AND FIVE INJURED.
While returning from the road construction camp at Mount Cargill on Friday evening at 5.30 a heavy Public Works Department lorry left the road and dashed over a 20ft bank, killing one of the occupants and injuring five others, three of whom now lie in hospital.
At a late hour on Friday Public Works officials stated that the deceased was D. or J. Reid, an ex-corporation employee. The police were unable to supply further particulars.
The names of the injured are:—
Kenneth McKenzie, 110 Albany street, fractured leg.
John Marr, 132 Leith street, severe shock.
Frederick Cole, 28 Howard street, a badly bruised arm, and a crushed chest and abdomen.
Two other men were also taken to the hospital, but were discharged after treatment. One, named Kearns, was suffering fom a broken rib, while the other, whose name was not taken, had minor abrasions.
Normally the lorry brings 20 men into Dunedin, but owing to circumstances which arose during the day only seven passengers and the driver made the trip.
The ambulance rushed to the spot in response to a telephone call from a passing motorist, and the injured men were removed to the Dunedin Hospital. Two were able to be discharged after treatment.
Reid’s body was taken to the city morgue.
Every evening since the Public Works load construction commenced, one of the lorries leaves for Dunedin after 5 o'clock to bring the employees home. It was while this journey was being made last evening that the fatality occurred.
The lorry had left the Mount Cargill post office and was proceeding towards the Upper Junction, when it left the road, crashed through a wire fence and toppled over the sleep bank into the bush and undergrowth below. It lies on its side, completely wrecked, and partly buried in the soft clay.
Only the trees and heavy undergrowth in which the machine is jammed prevented it from continuing a headlong career down the steep slope of the hill.
When assistance arrived Reid was lying partly under the wreckage in a dying condition, while the remaining members of the party were under the smashed hood.
The lorry is of the heavy Dennis type used by the Public Works Department for general carting work
The scene of the accident is a stretch of the main road half a mile on the south side of the Mount Cargill post office. The whole length of the road in the vicinity is in good order with a slight downward grade towards the Upper Junction. The spot where the lorry crashed to destruction over the bank is bordered by trees and heavy undergrowth 20 feet below the road.
From the last turning negotiated by the lorry there are 260 yards of road of an easy grade and 48 yards beyond the scene of the fatal plunge the road swings to the right.
Plain marks on the surface show that the brakes were applied, and the wheels were locked and skidded for 29 yards before the lorry left the road. Rain had fallen, and the road was wet, but the surface is particularly good at that spot, and was not slippery.
As soon as the wheels reached the grasscovered bank, the soft clay had given way, and the heavy machine toppled over, crashing on its side into the trees below. The force of the impact must have been terrific, for stout branches were smashed like matchwood and portions of the lorry chassis were left hanging on the tree trunks.
The remainder of the lorry was completely wrecked. The front wheels were smashed in under the body, the cab was crushed and the body with its covered top was splintered and crushed into the ground.
Immediately the police arrived, an examination of the wreckage was made by torchlight. Particular attention was paid to the steering gear and front portion of the machine, and it was found that an important nut was missing from the radius rod. This would be sufficient to cause the driver to lose all control of the lorry. Those who made the examination were of the opinion that the missing nut from the radius rod of the front wheels was the cause of the accident, in view of the fact that the road is straight at that point and there was no apparent reason for the gradual swerve made bv the lorry towards the bank.
CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.
DEFECTIVE STEERING GEAR.
The injured men are progressing favourably at the Hospital.
Kenneth McKenzie: A broken leg.
Frederick Cole: A badly bur.ecl arm and a crushed chest and abdomen.
John Marr: Severe shock.
It is learned that there were 11 men on the lorry nt the time of the mishap, which occurred with startling suddenness. The occupants of the vehicle were precipitated over the bank before they had time to realise that anything had gone wrong.
When seen by a reporter, Mr McCreadie, one of the passengers who was slightly injured, said that Reed sat next to him on the journey. It was Mr McCreadie’s first day on the Mount Cargill road construction work, and Reed was pointing out to him the various land marks as the lorry came down the hill. Mr McCreadie stated that the passengers in the lorry were unaware that anything had gone amiss. “We did not know that anything had happened to the steering gear, as the canvas wind screen in front hid the view." he said. “There was no indication of a fault in the lorry, and the first I knew that anything was amiss was when the lorry tipped over the bank. Even then, none of the men called out. I remember everybody in the back of the lorry lurching forward on top of Reed and myself, but nothing further until I recovered consciousness. My head was then doubled over on my chest, and I was lying heavily against the side of the lorry with someone on top of me. On looking round I saw a man lying on the bottom of the lorry with a board, which had been used as a seat, on his neck. It was Reed, and as far as I could see he was then lifeless. The apparent cause of the accident was the cracking of the metal of the niche into which is fitted a split pin for holding the nut on the radius rod near the left-hand wheel. The pin was released and the nut became unscrewed, causing the left wheel to become locked. In consequence the lorry just prior to its fatal plunge began to veer towards the bank on the left-hand side of the driver, who endeavoured to counteract the swerve by exerting all his force to drive it in the other direction. Simultaneously he applied the brakes, and the marks on the road showed that they had been applied from the spot where the steering gear got out of control. The machine then slid downwards with the left wheel locked, but the driver considered that he had it under control. The men in the cab evidently held the same opinion, for no one made any attempt to jump out. The machine had been brought to a standstill at the side of the road, but the clay bank gave way and the lorry took a forward lurch and rolled over.
It is stated that Cole, the driver, is recognised as being very competent. The unscrewed nut — the cause of the accident — was found on the road near the scene of the accident on Saturday morning.
The damage to the lorry is not expected to be so serious as was at first anticipated The framework was badly damaged, but so far as could be seen from an examination on Saturday the engine and chassis were were not damaged extensively. The lorry, which was the property of the department, has not yet been lifted from the valley.
OPENING OF INQUEST. An inquest on the body of William Reed was opened at the Hospital on Saturday morning before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.. sitting as coroner. Sergeant Young represented the police. After evidence of identification had been given by George Douglas Reed, a younger brother of deceased, the proceedings were adjourned sine die. The deceased was the eldest son of Mr William Reed of Warepa. and was 42 years of age. His remains will be interred at Warepa to-morrow. -Otago Witness, 30/3/1926.
IN MEMORIAM.
REED. — In loving memory of our son and brother, William, who passed away, 26th March, 1926. “We miss you most who loved you best." — Inserted by his father, sons, and sister-in-law, Balclutha. REED. — In memory of my dear brother, William Reed, late of Warepa, killed at Mount Cargill on March 26, 1926. “Beautiful and sacred is a brother's love.” — Inserted by loving sister, Lidia Bates. REED.—In loving memory of dear Will, acicdentally killed, Mount Cargill, March 26, 1926, “Ever remembered.” — Inserted by loving sister and brother-in-law, E. and M. Metcalf. -Otago Daily Times, 26/3/1927.
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