TWO DEAD

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28372, 3 September 1957, Page 12

TWO DEAD

Rail-Car Hits Truck Two men, were killed instantly when they were thrown from a heavy truck which was struck by the Christchurch-Dunedin rail-car on a level crossing: near Dunsandel at 6.15 p.m. yesterday. The truck, which was struck one yard from the end of the tray by the rail-car, failed by a few feet to negotiate the crossing. The men killed were: — Robert Thompson, aged 33, married with two children, a shearing contractor of Brookside. Eric Thomas Blair, aged 26, married with two children, a shearer, also of Brookside. The truck, which was wrenched out of alignment and tossed into a yard by the rail-car, ended up- . right with all four wheels wrenched from the chassis. Passengers in the rail-car saw the truck moving towards the crossing, which is on the Dun-sandel-Southbridge highway. The driver of the rail-car also saw the truck and sounded his horn, at the same time applying the brakes fully, but the truck was struck a heavy glancing blow on the rear left of the trayFlung from Cab Both men were flung from the cab of the truck. One struck the rails alongside a cattle stop, 12 yards down the railway line . while the other landed in front 1 of the truck, 20 yards frctm the point of impact. Constable E. F. Smith, of Burn2 ham, immediately called for the » Burnham Military Camp ambut lance. The men, both of whom 3 had severe head injuries as well 5 as multiple minor injuries, were . attended by Dr. E. Candy, of 2 Rakaia and found to be dead. 2 They were brought to Christi church by ambulance. 1 It is thought that both men were returning to their homes - after a day’s shearing. The rail-car was driven, with e a damaged front, about a mile i further down the line from the crossing and run on to a loop s line to permit the passing of the e north-bound express from Inverts cargill. The driver suffered minor shock and could not continue his duty. Passengers were delayed for an hour and a half while a relief rail-car was sent from Christchurch. A. Christchurch breakdown truck was called to tow the smashed truck into the \ city where, after a long haul, I it was lined up with three other II vehicles which had been involved in fatal accidents during the week-end. Car Overturns Near r Cave A Fairlie woman .was admitted to hospital and another woman and three children travelling with her were unhurt when their car skidded and overturned on ■ roadside shingle near Cave yes3 terday morning. " Mrs Norah Doris Leonard, aged 1 46, wife of Mr Ray Leonard, ol r Fairlie, was admitted to Fairlie Hospital for observation after the e accident, near Ma Waro, on the ’ Timaru-Fairlie main highway.