LORRY wrecked.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 26, 1 February 1932, Page 3

LORRY wrecked.

driver badly hurt. SMASH AT TUAKAU. UIVE L CROSSING AGAIN. KOTOKUA TRAIN DELAYED. A cream lorry driver, Mr. Thomas f'harles Fearon, was seriously injured in , collision with the Rotorua express at ' lcve l crossing at Tuakau this morn- * He was taken to the Auckland Hospital by the St. John Ambulance Thp collision occurred at 11.Jo tins on the George Street crossing, when the Rotorua express was passing .rough Tuakau. A passenger on the ivnres s said that the signals at the roW were working, but there was a curve at the approach to the crossing, u the moment of impact the lorry flung into the air by the engine, „.: cckc d and hurled on top of the engine, t was carried a short distance along the line. Three tons of cream and cans Lcin all directions and gave the impression that there had been a fall of I snow at the crossing. The cans were battered beyond rJKognitiov,.

He driver of the lorry was accompanied by a boy, Joseph McCormick, son of Mr. E. McCormick, the owner of the vehicle. He escaped with abrasions and was able to go home. Miss D. Grahanv who was a passenger on the express, said she occupied a seat about the middle of the train. She felt no jar, but those further up near the engine said that when the impact occurred the train lurched and then when the brakes were applied pulled up very quickly. . The express was running on time and (ravelling at its usual speed, and the driver was able to pull up in less than the length of the train. There was a delay of three-quarters of an hour before the journey to Rotorua was recommenced. Railway officials at Tuakau state that the crossing was equipped with a "wig-wag" signal and bells, which s-ere both in operation at the time. A message was dispatchcd from Tuakau to the St. John Ambulance, Auckland, for a conveyance to be sent down to take the man back to the Auckland Hospital. The ambulance arrived back at 1.45, and the injured man was admitted to the hospital with critical head injuries. Mr. Fearon is a married man aged 34. He was taken as far as Dniry by a motor van, and there transferred to the ambulance.