GROSSING TRAGEDY

Evening Star, Issue 22248, 28 January 1936, Page 12

GROSSING TRAGEDY

LORRY STRUCK BY EXPRESS DRIVER KILLED-TWO CHILDREN INJURED VEHICLE SMASHED TO PULP [Per United Press Association.] GORE, January 28. As the result of a collision at the Pukerau railway crossing between a motor lorry and the north express at 8.30 this morning one man is dead and two children were injured. DEAD. Percy Millar, aged 26 years, married, a farm hand, of Pukerau. INJURED. May Hoffman, aged 12 years, a daughter of Mr and Mrs John Hoffman, of East Gore. Both legs broken. Lewis Hoffman, aged seven years, a son of Mr and Mrs Hoffman. Head injuries. (His condition is not serious.) TERRIFIC IMPACT. Marylyn Millar, a daughter of the deceased, aged two years, had a miraculous escape. Percy Millar, who was employed by Mr Stanley Edwards, a farmer, of Pukerau, was driving the lorry with cream to the Pukerau dairy factory. He was accompanied by his daughter ■Marylyn and Lewis and May Hoffman, who were his nephew and niece. Visibility at the - crossing was bad, and Millar apparently failed to see the express, which does not stop at Pukcrau. In the terrific impact the lorry was smashed to pulp, and the occupants were thrown into a cattlestop. Passersby assisted to extricate the deceased, and medical aid was summoned. Millar, who was seriously injured, died on his way to the hospital. May ■Hoffman, with serious leg injuries, was admitted to the hospital. Lewis Hoffman, with cuts in the head, was also removed to hospital. Marylyn Millar escaped miraculously. The deceased was a well-known resident of Pukerau, and was a member of the Pukerau Football ' and Cricket Clubs. The north express was delayed 25 minutes, but there was no damage to it. [The express was a • quarter of ah hour behind schedule when it arrived at Dunedin at 11.35, actually the hour of departure. The journey resumed at four minutes before noon.]