South Africas first serious automobile accident On 1st October 1903, Mr Charles Garlick driving his fathers new 24hp Darracq with his friend Harry Markham and chaffeur Snellgrove as passengers, entered the Maitland level crossing from an open gate, only to find the opposite gate closed. Before they could open the gate or reverse out of the crossing, they were hit by the Johannesburg Express travelling at full speed. Snellgrove was thrown clear Garlick suffered minor injuries and Markham, with his arm already in splints from a previous engine-cranking mishap, had a badly broken thigh. It was announced that the Garlick workshop would undertake repairs to the Darracq. A new chassis was obtained from Paris and the final result testified to the efficiency of Cape Towns first motor repairers. From Early Motoring in South Africa by R.H. Johnston Thanks to Hilton T via Flickr.
Posted on: Wed, 09 Jul 2014 18:30:52 +0000
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