TRAGEDY AT LEVEL CROSSING

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 153, 25 March 1925, Page 9

TRAGEDY AT LEVEL CROSSING

CAR SMASHED TO ATOMS EIGHT OCCUPANTS ALL KILLED A TRAP FOR MOTORISTS (BI TBLEGBAFH. PRM9 ASSOCIATION.I Copybight Melbourne, March 24. Eight persons were killed last night when an electric parcels coach crashed into a motor-car at a level crossing near Highett, 13 miles from Melbourne. All the occupants of the car, four men, three women, and one child, were killed. Those so far identified are J. MacDonell, Miss Ina Grace, J. MacDonell, jun., his wife and child, and a man named Foley, of Sandringham,

It is believed that the others were Mr. and Mrs. Herricks. The crash was heard by residents in the vicinity, and they quickly gathered and rendered what assistance was possible. Though doctors were soon available, all the victims were dead before'they arrived. The medical opinion is that seven of the victims were killed outright, and the infant died shortly after. The bodies of the adults were shockingly mutilated and flung about, and the car was smashed to atoms. The victims were en route for a party in aid of the building fund of the local Catholic Church. The cai is believed to have been driven by J Mac Donnell.

As the car approached the .crossing there was another car ahead which cleared the crossing. The unfortunate driver of the second car tried to act similarly, and was caught midway bv the coach travelling at fifty miles an hour.

The wreckage was scattered over about sixty yards of the railway, while at the crossing itself the heavy wooden gates were splintered to pieces. The police so far are unable to trace a single eye-witness who can give a coherent account of the occurrence. The level-crossing keeper collapsed from shock and was unable to answei questions. , A woman walking near the crossing savs that it was fairly dark when suddenly there was a brilliant flash from the electric wire at the moment of collision. The coach continued travelling for 200 yards before it was pulled up. The bodies of some of the victims were carried as far as the coach travelled, and the debris of the smashed car was scattered in all directions. The woman picked up the injured child, but it died before she reached the gate house. The crossing is approached from a bend, which is stated to be very dangerous, as it is practically impossible to see an approaching train. Residents in the locality state that the only regular light in the vicinity was not alight last night. Frequent complaints have been made of the danger of the crossing, and pressure has been brought for it to be made more safe, but it proved unavailing. Another statement is that the safety bell, which is operated from Moorabbin Station when trains are approaching the crossing, was not rung. — Press Assn.

REVISED LIST OF DEAD (Rec. March 25, 0.15 a.m.) Melbourne, March 24. A revised list of those killed accounts for the following:—Michael McDonnell (aged 59), Clarence McDonnell (32), Mrs. Pearl McDonnell (30), Raymond McDonnell (four months), Martin Folev (36 vears), Enid Grace (18), Edward Shatfock (37), Mrs. Josephine Shatlock. The baby’s was the only body recognisable. It is surmised that it died of shock.

The safety bell was tested after the accident and found in good ordet. Just before the smash, the crossingkeeper is said to have shouted, "For God’s sake get a move on, a train is coming.” It is stated that he had the gates open to let the car pass, but details are very meagre. The Railway Department is investigating a suggestion that one set of gates was open to let the car pass, while the other was closed against it.—Press Assn.