CROSSING SMASH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 108, 8 May 1937, Page 18

CROSSING SMASH.

YOUTH FATALLY HURT ANOTHER IN HOSPITAL RAILCAR WRECKS MOTOR. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) MASTERTON. Friday. One youth was killed and another seriously injured when a motor-car in which they were travelling was struck by the railcar Arawa, half a mile north of the Carterton railway station this afternoon. The victims were: — Killed: Patrick Ryan, aged about 16 years, son of Mr. and Mrs. P. F. Ryan, of Kuripuni, Masterton. Injured: Frank Archer, aged 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Archer, Anderson's Line, Carterton. Both youths were employed by a firm at Masterton, Ryan only having been employed for two days. The railcar was driven by Mr. T. Long, of Cross Creek, and with Mr. John llopkinson, of Cross Creek, as conductor, left Masterton for Cross Creek at 4.1.1 p.m. The accident occurred at 4.29 p.m. at a level crossing in Anderson's Line, which runs off the main CartertonMasterton road alongside Booth's mill. The motor-car, which was driven by Archer, was travelling east toward the main road. The railcar struck the other vehicle in the middle on the left-hand side, and carried it across the cattle stop for a distance of 4.3 yards. The car was reduced to a mangled mass, wreckage 'l>eing strewn over a fairly wide area.

The two occupants of the motor-car were thrown out of the wrecked vehicle and were found lying near the rails at the rear of the railcar. The railcar was only slightly damaged, while the crew and nine or ten passengers escaped without a scratch.

Tlie injured youths were sent to the Grey town Hospital in an ambulance. Ryan had suffered extensive head injuries and died alxmt 8.30 p.m. without regaining consciousness. Archer suffered a fracture of the collarbone and other injuries. ,