RUNAWAY PETROL TANKER
Crash Into Dunedin Building
DRIVER DIES IN HOSPITAL
(New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, November 26. The courage of the driver of a runaway petrol waggon in Dunedin today cost him his life. Faced with the alternative of leaping from his vehicle when he lost control of it just below the junction of Arthur street, York place, and Rattray street, or staying at the wheel, he chose to remain. Blowing his horn and shouting to warn other traffic he tried to steer the heavy lorry down the half-mile length of York place.
At the foot of the hill he attempted to steer into Filleul street away from the thick traffic of the main street, but the waggon, estimated to be travelling at 70 miles an hour, could not be checked.
The driver, John Hellyer, a 27-year-old married man, of 5 Kilgour street, Roslyn, died in hospital. The truck swung partially round the corner, leaned over, crashed through and flattened two parked cars, and somersaulted through the wall of a factory. The driver was not the only one to display bravery. As petrol poured from the upended tanker three young men raced to the wreckage to extricate Mr Hellyer from the matchwood remains of the cab. Hard on their heels were three members of the St. John Ambulance Association. Between them they freed the driver, working quickly yet coolly and thoughtful for the safety of others as they shouted warnings to keep back.
Opportunity of Escape The accident occurred about 11.30 a.m when the tanker turned down York place. Either the brakes failed or Mr Hellyer slipped a gear change. At once the fully-loaded vehicle began to gather speed. At that stage Mr Hellyer could have abandoned the cab without doing himself serious harm.
With one hand on the horn, Mr Hellyer steered the vehicle down the middle of York place and halfway down the hill it was travelling at an estimated 50 miles an hour.
Ewen Cameron, John Cameron and Harry Williams were in a car turning from St Andrew street up York place and thought for a moment that the tanker would hit their car.
The tanker almost made the turn then lurched and smashed straight into a parked car, flattening it as if it had been paper. Another car was hurled backwards and badly damaged. Two others were slightly damaged. Crashing straight through the vehicles, the tanker rolled over and burst through the side wall of the Dominion Manufacturing Company’s premises. Petrol poured from one of the three compartments in the hull of the tanker and from its own tank.
Man Injured in Building As the tanker struck the wall the whole building shuddered and some of the occupants thought there was an earthquake. Mr Reece Davies who was working in a room inside the broken wall suffered back injuries and had to be taken to hospital. Several young women had to be treated for shock.
Messrs Ewen Cameron, John Cameron and Williams leapt from their car and ran to the wreckage. When they reached the vehicle the engine was still turning over and sparks flew from the distributor but there was no fire or explosion.
While the three men tried desperately to release Mr Hellyer, who was not at first visible among the wreckage, Cameron raced into the factory shouting a warning that an explosion was imminent.
Mr R. W. Edlin, one of three St. John Ambulance Association men quickly on the spot, urged that the injured man should be extricated with all care. The two other ambulance men, Mr K. Brandon and Mr M. Hurring stood by with a fire extinguisher.
The St. John Ambulance building was only a few yards away, and before rushing to the wreck Messrs Brandon and Hurring had started the motors of their ambulances. Mr Hellyer was semi-conscious, and as he was lifted clear, said he was alone in the cab. Within eight minutes of the crash he was at the hospital.
The fire brigade was on the scene quickly because the crash into the factory had set off an automatic alarm. Three minutes after the impact firemen were spreading sawdust over the petrol pools on the ground. Electric wires leading to the building were disconnected, hoses run out, and police and traffic officers pushed a large crowd out of the danger area. -Press, 27/11/1952.
Cheque for Widow. — The Grand Master of the Masonic Lodge of New Zealand (Mr Adam Smith) has stated that at a convenient time he will personally hand to Mrs John Hellyer, wife of the victim of last week’s petrol tanker accident at Dunedin, a cheque for £122, the amount subscribed at the Masonic Ball on Thursday night.— (P.A.) -Press, 1/12/1952.
DRIVER PRAISED BY CORONER
CRASH OF DUNEDIN PETROL WAGGON
(New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, December 23. It was perfectly clear that the driver remained at his post when the vehicle became out of control, and he desired to record the fact, said Mr J. D. Willis, S.M., today, when he sat as Coroner at the inquest into the death of John Joseph Hellyer, aged 27, married, of Kilgour street, Roslyn. Hellyer was driver of a fully-loaded petrol waggon which raced out of control down York place on November 26 and crashed into the side of the Dominion Manufacturing Company’s factory in Filleul street.
It was a very sad accident, the Coroner said, but there might be some suggestion that Hellyer was on his incorrect route. As there was no full evidence, he did not propose to comment.
He desired to commend the action of those men who ran to extricate Hellyer from the waggon when there was a danger of explosion. The Coroner returned a finding that Hellyer died on November 26 from shock and internal hemorrhage, the result of extensive crushing and compressing injuries to the body. -Press, 24/12/1952.
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