Dead-spot link with collision denied

Press, 9 March 1988, Page 25

Dead-spot link with collision denied

PA Palmerston North The Railways Corporation has denied any link between a dead spot in the new electrification system and a car’s colliding with a train at Bunnythorpe. The corporation’s senior public relations officer, Mr Bill Hopper, was commenting on a suggestion that an apparent dead spot in the Main Trunk electrification, just before the accident scene, might have contributed to the

accident

A Feilding man, Mr Trevor Fail, was seriously injured in the accident after being hit when, it is believed, he was trying to get out of or push his stalled car off the line.

A barrier arm also came down across the roof of his car in the accident which involved a new electric locomotive.

Mr Hopper said the fact there was a 20m neutral section outside the Bunnythorpe power station

had nothing to do with the accident. The fact the accident happened was most unfortunate.

“All the warning devices were working and would have been triggered 25 to 30 seconds or more before the train reached the railway crossing.

“I would have thought that someone, out of a car when the barrier arms came down and flashing lights went on, would get the hell out of it,” Mr Hopper said.