ACCIDENTS.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20906, 13 July 1933, Page 15

ACCIDENTS.

COLLISION ON CROSSING.

lobby hits west coast express. nnly one of the three occupants of which ran into the ex- * fj-om the West Coast at the IrfUdons crossing on Tuesday after- . was injured. He was Mr J. T. partage contractor, of Lmithe dfriver of the lorry, who rec a slight gash over one eye, and fe thrown from the lorry and wh Jfthin a few inches of the rails Iay «ha train swept past at about 40 mi hour. The other men in the "SB? Messrs H. W. and L. Galsons of the driver, remained Sated in the lorry, and received only )%i«ht shock. * 'irjj accident occurred at about 4.40 i ' The train had passed through and was moving at a fast 3d over a long, level stretch of line. nWlorry a two-ton delivery, was %?innded, and was being driven from s£dons, where Mr Gallagher had carting chaff. The approach to ♦he crossing dips up towards the line, a driver did not see or hear the Mdn approaching, he stated after the -Mdent The lorry, approaching from Ke northern side of the rails, hit the Ji,_ almost full on. striking the lignt- * «oDaratus under the second comiKini of the first carriage. The i bounced off the train and was round facing Christchurch, Sftbout being overturned. The door Sride the driver flew open and Mr rSnaaher was thrown out on to the South receiving a slight injury. His Scape from more serious injury was miraculous, for he rolled almost on rails, and was actually under the overhang of the carriages when he ,topjrtid himself. Carriage Damaged. More damage seemed to be done to the railway carriage than to the lorry. jyne ot the big springs on the carriage J*. affected, the steps off the rear end of that carriage and off portion of the Ljond carriage were ripped off, and, mrintf to the damage to the electrical llnuiisment, the lights remained off in thfc front carriage for the rest of the ImaMS" into Christchurch, which tad to- be undertaken at a slow speed m aMOUht of the damaged spring. TheWestinghouSe brake was also of the motor-lorry was hftdW /damaged, although the engine Irasnk'affected. The framework was twisfed and one of the tyres was ouncttned, but the rear of the vehicle wlt lioi damaged. The windscreen wta shattered. The carriage which vas damaged was full, and there were about i! 25 passengers on the express, wMKffc' was delayed for about 40 The driver of the lorry stated that he did not hear the train whistle, nor did h* see; anything until he was nearly on .the crossing. He applied the b?!#kes but could not pull up. The driver o£ the engine stated that he whittled , before the crossing was reached And again when nearly on it. He also-applied the brakes.

Life CRUSHED BY LOG. 'h 'i x (FIMfiBS APSOCIATIOB TIT4EOR vV.) OPOTIKI, July 12. Olaf Richardson had his right leg badly crußhed by a falling log at WSloeka, 30-miles from Opotiki, and had a long wait for assistance. He was brought to the hospital here. His condition is very low.