From the Kentish Gazette, Tuesday 16 September, 1856.

SERIOUS AND FATAL ACCIDENT.

On Tuesday last a most melancholy accident took place in this neighbourhood, attended with loss life. It appears that Mr. Potts, of the "Green Man Tavern," Old Kent Road, left the "King's Arms," Eltham, about either o'clock in the evening, in a chaise, accompanied by a friend. Mr. Potts, incautiously allowing his friend, who was not an expert "whip" to drive. They had not left more than ten minutes when assistance was sent for in consequence of a serious accident that had just occurred. At the foot of Todman's Wall the driver unfortunately came in contact with a waggon passing on the road, belonging to Mr. Watkins, of Sidcup, - breaking both shafts of the gig, dislocating Mr. Potts collarbone, and his unfortunate companion, who undertook to drive, having his leg broken, amputation of which is feared to be necessary. The horse then bolted to the off-side with the shafts sticking up, when, after proceeding 20 yards, it met a waggon belonging to Mr. Pollard, of Foot's Cray. The horse ran to the near side shafts of the waggon, which penetrated under the hip nearly through the other side. The man having charge of the waggon rushed to his horses' head, when he was immediately struck with the gig-shaft on the temple, thrown on the step and jerked on to the back at the side of the road, where he expired. The gig-horse, which was so seriously injured was immediately shot. We have seldom had to record a more melancholy series of accidents, and which took place within so short a period.