SIX KILLED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 141, 17 June 1930, Page 9

SIX KILLED.

CROSSING SMASH.

TRAGEDY AT SOCKBURN.

ENGINE STRIKES MOTOR CAR

rOUB ITJBSES AND TWO ME3f THE VICTIMS.

scene of awful confusion,

( Br XelegrapH.-Spedal to "Star.'")

CEEISTCKURCH, this day,

With awful suddenness a motor car and railway engine collided on the Sockbum railway crying early last evening 3E d caused the death of lour hospital nurees, the driver of the motor car and tie driver of the engine. The dead are:

mrta Isabella Duncan Brand, aged about "J matron at the Templeton farm coiony branch of the Sunnyside Mental Hospital.

Mary Cameron, nurse at the Templeton farm colony.

Miss Jane Field Palmer, nurse at the Templeton farm colony.

Mi3S Isabel Dorothy Bensell, nurse at the Templetoa farm colony.

Mfc Ralph Augustus Smith, aged 20 suWe motor car driver, employed at the*Sunnyside Mental Hospital. '

Mrl Charles Waterloo Smith, aged 59, married, engine driver.

The fireman on the engine. Mr. Frank Carson, of OUivier's Road, Christchurch, sustained scalds and shock. Three young nurses and the matron of the Templeton farm colony branch of tie Sminvside Mental Hospital had been day's leave in Christchurch aid they were"being driven back to the institution in a motor car, the driver of which was a young employee of the

institution. , , , It was 5.23 p.m. when the tragedy occurred. The crossing keeper was on dntv with lamp in hand. _ A train convening workmen from Islington to the city approached from the south and at tie same time the motor car approached from the direction of Cliristchnrch. It would seem that the driver 01 the car became aware of danger too late, for with one last desperate effort, he swerved to the left in an endeavour ito avoid the engine. The car, howevei;, was caught in the middle and carried to a cattle stop, where it crumpled up, the engine at the same moment leaving tlie lines and causing: six or seven sheep 'trucks to telescope, setting up a heap of wreckage which piled on the rails and extended to the embankment. • Tie engine, which was travelling tender first, almost completely turned round and with a hiss of escaping steam Became buried in the soft ground. Within. a few minutes fire broke out and added to the general confusion. In the passenger carriages at the rear Ol tlie train only a slight bump was felt. _ There were many willing hands to give aid and urgent calls were sent for fire brigade, ambulance and police.