REMARKABLE ESCAPE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 17, 1 November 1935, Page 8

REMARKABLE ESCAPE

MAN LEAPS ON TO ENGINE. TRUCK AND TRAIN COLLIDE. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, October 31. A truck-driver, Mr A. V. Ryan, bad a remarkable escape from death this afternoon, when the truck he vas driving was struck by a north-bound goods train at the Totara Avenue crossing, New Lynn. The truck was rolled over several times and earned IUU vards along the track on the front o the engine. Mr Ryan climbed from the wrecked: cab of the truck and jumped on to the fender of the engine, suffering only'from a slight cut on the head. . ~ On approaching the crossing, - Vlr Ryan was about to look either v\ ay for any oncoming trains, when his attention was drawn for a moment to a small child playing on the dine at the centre of the crossing. He saw the child run from the line, but did not notice the train until the actual crash. Mr Ryan was not aware of the approaching train, and was given no further opportunity to avoid a collision. At the first impact the truck was foiled over several times and across the cattle-stop, which is particularly wide at this crossing; Throughout this terrifying experience Mr Ryan clung to his seat in the cab. Then the truck was partly pushed and partly carried along the line for 100 yards, leaving a trail of wreckage. Mr Ryan managed to climb from the cab of the track and took a j»mp on to the fender of the engine, where he was standing, 1 _ the worse for his experience, when tlie train was brought to a standstill.