LEVEL CROSSING SMASH

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 85, 11 April 1925, Page 7

LEVEL CROSSING SMASH

DEATH OF A VICTIM. A VICTORIAN TRAGEDY. (By Cable. —Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 11.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, this day. Mrs. Emily Griffiths succumbed toi injuries received in the level crossing smash at Bayswater. — (A. and N.Z.) A passenger train crashed into a wagonette and killed Mr. James Griffiths, aged 75, managing partner Messrs. Griffiths Bros., tea merchants, Janet Emily Harris, aged 18, and Eliza* beth Morton, aged 45. Two other occupants of the' wagonette were injured* namely, Mrs. Griffiths and Dr. Shelley, a visitor from Jerusalem. The occupants of the wagonette were thrown beneath the train. Miss Harris was killed instantly. Mi-. Griffiths died on the way to a hospital, and Miss Morton succumbed shortly aiter her admission to the institution. The crossing is not protected by gates, and is not lighted at night.< ■ It is stated, however, that people in vehicles should have a clear view of approaching trains. Mrs. Griffiths wa» seated beside her husband, who was driving l when the train crashed into the vehicle, and was critically hurt. When the train pulled np, Mr. Arthur Harris, who is manager of one of the late Mr. Griffiths' estates, alighted from it to render assistance. He was just in time to see the body of his daughter being dragged from beneath the train.