RUNAWAY CHARABANC.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 12, 15 January 1924, Page 8

RUNAWAY CHARABANC.

FORTY MILES AN HOUR. DRIVER'S THRILLING' ADVENTURE. I Fine presence of mind in keeping control of a runaway charabanc was displayed by Jack Wallace last evening, anel certainly resulted in his having a miraculous escape from a very serious accident, says the "Hawke's Bay Herald" of January 11. Wallace was the driver of a chaTa- | bane, the property of the Albert Staibles, Hastings, which was coming down 'Milton Road towards town. Shortly after leaving the top of the hill the brakes gave way, anel immediately the car shot forward down the steep incline. With each yard the car gained speed, and although he had to pass two or three motors going up the hill Wallace retained control of the wheel. Safely be . negotiated the bends in the road, but nearing the •hottom, when travelling at between 50 ,and 60 miles per hour, it began to sway and threatened to capsize at any moment. However, it 'bounded on. To negotiate the right angle corner at the hottom of the hill was impossible. Wallace sought the opening into the northern portion of Clive Square, but missed it, and wlien the charabanc hit the kenbing in - between two large trees its great speed carried it on through the air until it landed on its four wheels right in the square. Tlie impact caused the front wheels and axle to badly buckle up, but the car's momentum carried it on to a heap of boulders on the other side of the square, where it came to a standstill. The escape of the driver was a miraculous one, for the charabanc, after hitting the kerbing, must have leapt forward fully 35 feet, and in doing so cleared the wall, which is raised about six inches above the footpath, and also a big heap of soil and stone lying in the square. Had the rear wheels of the car hit the heap of soil and stone it would surely have turned a complete somersault, and in all probability been attended by serious consequences. Fortunately Wallace was the only occupant at the time of the accident. He escaped with, a shaking.