Rail-Car Strikes Car: Warning Attempt Fails

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28981, 24 August 1959, Page 10

Rail-Car Strikes Car: Warning Attempt Fails

(New Zealand Press Association)

NEW PLYMOUTH, Aug. 23. An attempt by a motorist to notify railway officials that his car was blocking the line to New Plymouth at Midhirst failed late on Saturday night. The Auck-land-New Plymouth rail-car struck the car injuring the railcar driver and one passenger. There was no-one in the car. The rail-car driver, Athol James Scouller, of 5 Arawa street, New Plymouth, received a broken leg. The passenger, Gordon Cheeseman, of Victoria road, New Plymouth, received minor injuries. Both were admitted to Stratford Hospital. The accident occurred about 11.33 p.m. on the southern side of the overhead bridge on the New Plymouth-Hawera highway, north of Midhirst. Patrick Leo Uhlenberg, of Midhirst, was the driver and sole occupant of the car, a pre-war American model, when it left the road, crashed through a wire mesh safety fence, knocked several posts over, rolled down an embankment, and came to rest on its wheels in the centre of the railway track. Climbing from the vehicle Mr Uhlenberg, who was unhurt, immediately started running for the Midhirst Railway Station, about a quarter of a mile away, to warn the stationmaster. He was given a ride in a car part of the way, but he was too late.

He had just reached the station, when there was a loud crash as the rail-car ploughed into the car. The rail-car carried on about 500 yards before stopping. The car was smashed to pieces and members of the staff of a car wrecking firm spent most of this morning picking up the parts. The 20 passengers on the railcar were thrown out of their seats on to the floor, and many struck their heads against seats. Many of the passengers suffered minor shock, but only Mr Cheeseman required medical attention. The passengers were taken to New Plymouth in buses and the rail-car reached New Plymouth under its own power after travelling most of the way at 10 miles an hour. The rail-car was extensively damaged. The rail-car is expected to leave New Plymouth at 2.30 a.m. tomorrow for Auckland on the scheduled service, but it will be running only on one motor.