ENGINE HITS CARRIAGE

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24882, 23 May 1946, Page 4

ENGINE HITS CARRIAGE

Train Accident In Southland

FIVE PASSENGERS INJURED (P.A.) INVERCARGILL, May 22. Crashing into the rear of a workers’ train at Makarewa railway station at 5 o’clock this afternoon, the engine of a mixed train from Tuatapere shattered the last carriage, in which about 30 men were seated. Only five of them suffered injury, and as far as could be ascertained to-night only one was seriously hurt. Four of the men were taken to the Southland Hospital at Kew, and one was removed to his home. The injured men are:— Admitted to Hospital Robert William Gibson, of Pareora, South Canterbury, who lives at 74 Deveron street, Invercargill; extensive bruises and possible injuries to the spine. Condition fairly serious. John Spowart White, of Grassmere, abrasions. Condition, satisfactory. Thomas Kelly, of 162 Dee street, Invercargill. Condition satisfactory. Percy Wildred Paddon, of West Plains, scalds to the hand and head and abrasions. Condition satisfactory. J. C. Tunnicliffe, of Makarewa Junction, was slightly injured and was taken to his home. The accident occurred just as the workers’ train, which comprised an engine and four carriages, was about to leave Makarewa station for Invercargill. Before the signal to depart could be given the train from Tuatapere appeared round a curve about 100 yards north of the station. Immediately he saw the danger ahead the driver of the Tuatapere train applied the brakes, but he could not bring the train to a standstill before It crashed into the fourth carriage of the workers’ train. It tore half-way through the carriage before coming to a standstill. The men in the carriage, which had longitudinal seating, were thrown in dll directions, and those who saw the wreck were amazed that no one had been killed. One man was wedged between the splintered side of the carriage and the engine, and it was necessary to tear away parts of the woodwork to extricate him. Another smashed his way through a window. When he realised that an accident could not be avoided, the fireman on the Tuatapere train jumped clear, but found himself in a dangerous situation. The tender of the engine swung abruptly to the right, the side on which he had jumped, and toppled over. Then bales of hemp came tumbling from a waggon. The fireman, who suffered no more than a few bruises and a shaking, saw the danger in time, and was able to jump clear of the wreckage. The driver, striving his utmost to bring the train to a standstill before it reached the stationary train, remained on the engine and escaped with a shaking.