CROSSING SMASH

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 116, 12 November 1935, Page 12

CROSSING SMASH

BICCAETOX BACE DAY ONE DEAD, TWO INJURED (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, November 11 A man was killed, his wife very gravely injured, and another man badly injured in an accident at the Midi dleton railway crossing at about midday today. They were travelling to Riccarton for the races when their car ran into an inward-bound race train on the crossing. Those involved, were: Killed. Martin Joseph Crowe, farmer, of Morven. Injured. Mrs. Crowe, seriously injured. E. W. Pidseon, 80 Bealey Avenue, Christchurch, injured. Tonight Mrs. Crowe is deeply unconscious and in a grave condition, sufIfering from terrible head injuries. There were no near witnesses of the accident, but available information is that the motor-car was following another car. The first car stopped while an outward-bound train passed over the Middleton crossing. An inward train was approaching at the same time, but was obscured from the view of the second car by the outward train. The first car got across just in time, but the second, moving on to the crossing just as the guard's van of the outward train cleared it, was struck on the bonnet by the second train. The car was swung so violently that the three passengers were thrown out. Mr. Crowe fell partly under the engine, and was dragged along with his body caught in the driving rods until the engine pulled up just over the cattle-stop. His body was dreadfully mutilated. Mrs. Crowe was probably thrown against the train and was very badly injured. Mr. Pidgeon was injured and dazed but was sitting up before workmen rushed to the crossing to give aid. Men working nearby said that both trains whistled loudly on approaching the crossing and neither the car nor the trains were travelling at a fast speed. It seems certain that the accident occurred because the driver's sight of the second train was obscured by the outward-bound train. There is no warning signal or keeper at the crossing. I During the last twelve days four persons have been killed and four injured on level crossings in and near Christchurch.