HEAD-ON CRASH

Evening Star, Issue 22798, 5 November 1937, Page 8

HEAD-ON CRASH

TRAINS COLLIDE AT SPEED THREE PERSONS INJURED PROBABLE BRAKE FAILURE [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, November 4. Three persons were injured and the front portions of two trains were reduced to a mass of tangled debris when they met in a violent head-on collision near the Parnell overbridge, about 400 yards south of the Auckland station at 9.17 to-night. The accident occurred when a goods train returning to Auckland from Newmarket became out of control and crashed into a mixed goods and passenger train outward bound for Henderson. The injured were:— Harold Mackay, aged 35, married, of Newton, a shunter on the train from Newmarket, who suffered injuries to the groin and hip. Ho was admitted to hospital, and his condition is not serious. Frederick E. H. Ongley, aged 41, married, of Point Chevalier, a shunter riding in the engine of the same train, who suffered concussion and a severe cut under the right -ye. Several stitches were inserted in the cut. and the injured man was admitted to hospital His condition is regarded as not serious. Herbert Reid, driver of the train for Henderson, suffered slight facial wounds. Jack Muir, aged about 36, married, of Broadway, Newmarket, fireman on the train from Newmarket, jumped clear just before the crash i.ud rolled down an embankment. He received numerous abrasions and bruises, and suffered badly from shock. After treatment at the St. John Ambulance Station he was able to return to his home. A woman passenger also was taken to the Auckland Hospital suffering from shock, but after treatment at the Casualty Department she was able to proceed to her home;, HEAD-ON CRASH. A few yards from the spot where the collision occurred the double line commences, but the outward-bound train had not reached this cross-over when a piercing and prolonged whistle was heard from the line ahead. The driver reduced speed, knowing that another train approaching at increasing speed down the fairly steep gradient was experiencing brake trouble and was giving the acknowledged warning to other traffic. It was impossible to avert a collision, and within sight of‘the Auckland station the two tank locomotives met with a resounding crash. The two engines were locked completely and were wedged so tightly that it was later found necessary to break them apart by means of acetylene welders. Behind the outward-bound locomotive the first of a rake of heavilyJadon wagons was standing on its end, and behind it a string of trucks was piled one against the other. Much greater damage, however, was done to the rolling stock drawn 7 the other train, and here the wreckage was indescribable. Two wagons were standing up on end " and another nine were smashed. Pigs in some of the trucks were injured, and several had to be killed. The line was completely blocked, several wagons being thrown off the line down a 20ft embankment. A breakdown gang was hurriedly made up, taxis being despatched throughout the suburbs to obtain' men. A determined start to clear the wreckage was made at midnight in the light of flares and small lamps, but no indication could be given as to when the work would be completed. In the meantime all services have been diverted around the Orakei route. THE PROBABLE CAUSE. Mr H. C. Couch, district traffic manager, said that the inward-bound train got out of control, and while it was impossible to state the cause at [he present time, it was probably due to a failure of the brakes.