CROSSING SMASH.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 288, 5 December 1929, Page 7

CROSSING SMASH.

MOTOR TRUCK WRECKED DRIVER HURLED 20 YARDS. EXTRAORDINARY ESCAPE. LOCOMOTIVE ALSO DAMAGED. Lifted bodily by the cow-catcher of the inward bound train from Heleneville an empty three-ton truck, driven by Mr. C. Buckley, a married man, of 39, Station Terrace, Eemuera, was totally wrecked at St. George's Street crossing, Avondale, at 8.15 o'clock this morning. The driver had a remarkable escape from death. He was thrown clear of the truck, and was picked up over a chain distant from the crossing, where he lay covered with wreckage. Mr. Buckley suffered from a head wound and shock, and first aid was administered to him by the guard of the train, Mr. Angus Roes and his assieta-nt Mr. F. Kelly. He was later brought to Auckland by the St. John Ambulance, and now liee in the hospital, where he underwent an X-ray examination. His condition is not regarded as serious. The crossing is an open one, and visibility is good from both approaches. It abute on the Glenburn Brickworks, and ie only a few yards from the St. George'e Street flag station. Mr. Buckley, an employee of A. W. Bryant and Co., coal merchants, was on his way to the brickworks to load. The train was travelling at a fair speed at the time of the collision, but the engine driver (Mr. Curtis) managed to pull up within a train's length. Truck Lifted Bodily. So severe was the impact that the hood of the truck was thrown clear of the line, and came to rest in the brickyard, having been thrown over a wire fence. The truck wa3 lifted bodily by the cowcatcher of the engine, and deposited in a oattlestop some 50 or 60 feet distant. The petrol tank Tras ripped from the chassis and thrown against the brickyard fence. In fact, for a distance of more than a chain wreckage and broken glass were strewn about. The driver's seat was lodged 25 feet distant from where Buckley was picked Tip. The injured man, despite the force of the impact, was able to talk to the guard of the train, and give his name and address. He was taken to NewLynn in the guard's van, and there transferred to an ambulance. Hβ walked from the station to the conveyance. Train Delayed. The collision damaged the engine of the train, and it was unable to continue its journey to Auckland. The fireman was sent back to report the occurrence, and an engine was dispatched to tow the train back to New Lynn. After considerable delay the suburban passengers, a big percentage of whom were school children, were transferred to the Helensville train, and arrived at Auckland at 10 o'clock, half an hour behind schedule. The through passengers were a little more than an hour late. Buckley is especially unfortunate in that he had been unemployed for some time before being employed by Bryants.