DRIVER KILLED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 29, 4 February 1943, Page 6

DRIVER KILLED

CROSSING FATALITY

TRUCK HIT AT TUAKAU The level, crossing at George Street. Tuakau. was the scene of a fatal accident at seven o'clock this morning, when a van was involved in a collision, with' a north-bound express. The victim was the van driver: Mr. William Archibald Smeed, aged 60, married, a quarry proprietor of Larrisvilie. Tuakau. Mr. Smeed left home a few minutes before seven o'clock in a runabout van to drive to his metal quarries at Pukekawa. As the van was crossing the track an' extra train for Auckland from Wellington collided with it. and Mr. Smeed's body was thrown about half a chain. The van was completely wrecked, and the line strewn with wreckage for about two and a half chains. It was stated that the wig-wag system was functioning.

One of Tuakau's best known residents. Mr. Smeed, was a certificated traction driver, and it is recalled that he drove the leading engine across Grafton Bridge, Auckland, on the trial test after the bridge was completed 31 years ago. Besides being the owner of one of the largest metal quarries in the province, he conducted several dairy farms in the Hauraki Plains district. He was a former South Auckland Rugby representative player and a member of the Tuakau Masonic Lodge.

Mr. Smeecl is survived by his wife three daughters and a son.