MOTOR-CYCLE HITS TRAIN

Press, Issue 22599, 3 January 1939, Page 10

MOTOR-CYCLE HITS TRAIN

CROSSING COLLISION RIDER SUFFERS SERIOUS INJURIES Harry Blanchard, a married man. of 6 Kohini street, Riccarton, received serious injuries when a motor-cycle he was riding struck a carriage on a special train running to Christchurch from Greymouth on a crossing at Islington about 4 p.m. yesterday. The motor-cyclist, who is employed as an engineer at the New Zealand Refrigerating Company’s works at Islington, was returning to his home from the works along the Halswell Junction road, which runs at an angle with the railway line. When his machine collided with one of the rear carriagej of the train, both motorcycle and rider were thrown about 20 feet in the direction the train was travelling. The motor-cycle was thrown through the fence at the side of the railway, breaking three wires in the fence, and was damaged beyond repair. Blanchard was taken to the Christchurch Hospital by the St. John ambulance suffering from a fractured arm, fractured ribs, and shock. His condition, though serious at first, showed slight improvement about 10 o’clock last night.

YOUTH CRITICALLY INJURED ATTEMPT TO BOARD MOVING TRAIN (rssss ASSOCIATION TELEGKAU.) NEW PLYMOUTH, January 2. Severe injuries to his left leg and arm and chest were suffered by Andrew Wilson, aged 171 years, of Manunui, when he attempted to board the Taumarunui excursion train as it moved out of the New Plymouth railway station on Sunday at 5.6 p.m. After being picked up from the track when the train had passed, he was rushed by ambulance to hospital, where his condition to-day was reported to be critical. The train had just started, and was travelling at about 10 miles an hour when Wilson, carrying a parcel under his right arm, sprinted through the eastern entrance to the station and made a dash for the front of the third from last carriage. In spite of a warning shout from a station official, he jumped towards the step of the carriage, but missed his grip'of the handrail with .his left hand, and struck the moving train heavily. The impact threw him full length on to the station platform, with his legs projecting over the edge. As a result, his feet were struck by the rearward cars as they passed, and rolling over he was dragged off the platform to fall on the side of the track. Owing to the curve in the track, it was not possible for thp engine crew to see what had happened. The train was brought to a standstill within 100 yards or so, apparently as a result of & signal or the application of the emergency brake. Amputation of both the left leg and arm were found necessary at the hospital. Wilson had come from Manunui on an excursion train to spend the day at Ngamotij Beach.

PEDESTRIAN KILLED IN MARLBOROUGH

BLENHEIM. January 2. The New Year began badly in Marlborough, when a fatal accident occurred within two hours, of midnight on Saturday. A pedestrian was killed by a motor-car on the highway at Spring Creek. ' It was the first serious road accident of the holidays in this district. The victim,. James Reed, aged 56, single, a labourer, was formerly a resident of Nelson. The car was driven by Alick Morgan, aged 23. of Marshlands. Reed, \yho was wearing a dark suit, was walking on the bitumen surfacing within a few chains of his whare when he was struck by the left-hand front bumper, suffering a fractured skull which was instantly fatal.

YOUTH KILLED WAIPUKUBAU, January 2. Piri Cyril Wakefield, a Maori, aged 17, was killed at Wanstead, near Waipukurau, at 11,45. a.m. on Sunday, when a flve-seater old model touring car in which he was a passenger somersaulted down an 80-foot bank after running over a low slope on the side ot the road. Dudly Ropiha, of Foxton, the only other occupant, was driving. He had a miraculous escape, suffering only minor injuries, abrasions, and severe shock. He was admitted , to Waipukurau Hospital,

MOTOR-CYCLIST INJURED

GISBORNE, January 2,

A motor mechanic, D. N. Wilkins, aged 18, suffered a broken leg and arm on Saturday evening, when his jnotor-cycle was involved in a collision with a light truck driven by J. B. ; Jefferd ia the Tokomaru Bay town- , ship. INJURY TO FINGER Edward R. Allaway. of 204 Witchell road, Biccarton. was admitted to the Christchurch Public Hospital on Saturday,' suffering from an injury to his left index finger. The injury, which was suffered while Allaway was working on a tractor, is not considered to be serious. . FALL FROM MOTOR-CYCLE A man named De Thier, of 508 Tuam street, received head injuries when he fell from a motor-cycle on the main road near Oxford about 11.30 p.m. on Sunday. He was taken to the Christchurch Hospital. His condition is reported to be satisfactory. CYCLIST INJURED Leonard Burney, aged 16; of Langdons road, Papanui, was admitted to the Christchurch Hospital yesterday suffering from facial injuries he received, when he fell off a cycle he was riding near Kairaki beach about 5,25 p.m. yesterday. His condition is not serious.