South Yorkshire Times June 19 1948
Thurnscoe and Houghton Girls in Crash
Driver’s Collapse at Wheel
Passengers Try to Control Runaway Bus
In the early hours of Tuesday morning 16 local girls travelling to work in a Bradford mill by private bus had narrow escapes from serious injury when the driver of the bus was taken suddenly ill and collapsed over the steering wheel. Out of control the runaway bus travelled for 100 yards along the grass verge. Two of the girls attempted pluckily to gain control of the vehicle which carried on at an increased speed, grazed a low wall, crashed into a pole carrying electric cables and careered on bursting through a wall and eventually coming to rest in a field below road level on its side.
Succoured By Villagers
Villagers from Foulby five miles from Wakefield, where the accident occurred, rushed out oftheir cottages, many of them still in the their night clothes, to attend to the injured girls and driver.
Of the 16 girls in the bus 14 were from Thurnscoe and two from Great Houghton. The two girls who tried to control the runaway bus were Ivy Barton of 2, Park Road, Thurnscoe and Glenwin Morris of Great Houghton, who said she saw the driver slump forward over the wheel just after the bus had crossed Nostell Dam Bridge. She tried to push the driver away from the controls, jumping up and grabbing the wheel from behind.
Greta Beck one of the injured girls told a “South Yorkshire Times” reporter after the crash. “When the driver leaned over I thought he was joking. I then saw something was wrong when Glyn and Ivy jumped up and tried to steer the bus w this hich shot forward. After that I did not remember anything else until the bus had overturned, everything seemed to be over in a flash.”
Electricity Cut Off.
Foulby’s electricity supply was temporarily cut off by the crash. The 12 inch thick pole carrying the wires and was carried away, and was under the bus when it came to a standstill.
The driver, Ronald Roberts of 27, Exchange Street, South Elmsall, is still detained in Wakefield Clayton Hospital suffering from lacerations to the face. His condition, however, is reported to be “fairly comfortable.”
Emily Kirton (56), of 14, Edward Street, Thurnscoe, is also detained in Clayton hospital suffering from injuries to her right wrist, she is reported to be “comfortable.”
Two sisters were involved in the crash. May Bell (16), of 30, Hanover Street, Thurnscoe, sustained bruises to her arm and her 20 year-old sister, Nellie, had bruises to her back and is suffering from shock. Greta Beck of 30, York Street, Thurnscoe, who was brought home by ambulance had injuries which necessitated six stitches to her right leg and stitching to her forehead. She is now able to hobble about the house.
Audrey Owen of 1, Salisbury Avenue, Thurnscoe was thrown when the bus overturned and had to have a cut on the back of her head stitched.
Betty Gethen, 20, Lansdowne Avenue, suffered injuries to her elbow and left knee and was treated at Clayton hospital. Mavis Fletcher, 30, Lancaster Street, is recovering from shock.
These injuries were of a minor nature caused by glass which shattered as the bus turned over.
A second bus following behind also carrying girls to work in the mills was pulled up and the girls helped their unfortunate colleagues. All the girls were got out by the emergency exit in the rear of the bus.
