A GREAT BLAZE

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 140, 15 June 1928, Page 11

A GREAT BLAZE

<, LOAD OF BENZINE SENSATIONAL CROSSING SMASH (By Telegraph.) (Spocia! to "The Evening Post.") PALMERSTON N., This Day. Shortly after 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon, a splintering crash, a dull | explosion, and a rising sheet of flamo signalled another railway smash at the fatal West street level crossing. The south-bound, express from New j Plymouth, steaming out of the Palmer- | st-on North ltailway Station slightly behind time, struck a big lorry piled high with cases of benzine. The engine carried the- lorry some 15 yards before it toppled over with a crash, and burst into :i roaring, sheet oi: flame. Two men ivero in the vehicle, but both managed tQ, roll clear before the wreck became firrHnfenio. The lorry, said an eye-witness, was proceeding into town and was almost across the rails nil en the engine struck it. The big lorry was dragged side on to the locomotive, which smashed and crumpled it, as it dragged it along. Then the wrecked lorry toppled over, its high-piled benzine cases crashing amid the wreckage. With a roar the wreck broke into a mass of flame. The flames enwrapped the engine, blistering the paint, and driving the passengers out of the first carriages. The train was backed clear of the crossing and the blazing debris. BOTH MEN INJURED. The fire engine arrived but a few I minutes later, the attendant train of bicycles, motorists, and pedestrians hot in its wake. Willing helpers had already succoured the unfortunate passengers of the lorry. Both were seriously in jurcd,'• particularly the driver, who had several burns, in'addition to other injuries. The ambulance also was quickly on the scene, and the two men were rushed to the hospital. - The driver was Mr. Ken Kersall,well known in Palmerston North as one of the most popular of the municipal bus drivers. Ho had just entered into a partnership carrying business, and- was making his second trip. Information from the hospital last evening was to the effect that Mr. sail had regained consciousness and was. showing an . improvement. He was reported to bo suffering from severe shock and burns with slight abrasions. ' ■ His companion was Mr. Frederick Lester, of Auckland, who was also stated to bo improving. ■ Whilo his condition was not so serious, as that of i Mr. Kcrsall, ho'also was suffering from shock and abrasions. . ' ■ .• INTENSE HE4.T. Fortunately tho fiercely burning lorry was well away from any buildings, but the pools of released benzine constituted a real danger. The lire was extinguished at 5.30 p.m. While the conflagration, was at its height tho heat was intense, and a column of flames and rolling black smoke rose high into the air.- That portion of the rails over which tho burning wrcckago lays was so twisted by the fire that tho engine had to proceed at "a snail's pace" when it was finally judged safe for it to continue its journew at 4.40 p.m. Telegraph wires run-, ning almost above the blazo.melted and broke out and it was impossible to work the tablet until repairs had been effected. In the opinion of oye-witnesscs tho escape of tho two men in the lorry was nothing short of miraculous. If . they had been caught in the flames, there could, only have been one end to the matter. Tho train reached Wellington at 7.23 p.m., nearly an hour and a half late.