ACCIDENTS AND TRAGEDIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 January 1939, Page 6

ACCIDENTS AND TRAGEDIES

BODY ON RAILWAY LINE. [PEE press association.] AUCKLAND, January 19. Clad in a singlet and underpants, pyjamas and dressing-gown, the body of Alexander Venn Simmonds, aged 44, married, was found on the railway line near the Panmure railway station early this morning. He was a returned soldier pensioner, and an inmate of the Evelyn Firth Home-, Parnell. The engine-driver of a. passing train communicated with the police. At. the inquest before the Coroner, Mr F. K. Hunt, George Shaw, employed as a. porter at the Evelyn Firth Home, said it was common knowledge that Simmonds suffered from pressure on the brain. He had a lit on Sunday last, but was cheerful when lig retired to bed at 9.50 last night. The inquest was adjourned.

JIGGER AND LORRY COLLIDE.

HASTINGS, January 19. One man received injuries from which he later succumbed, while another was admitted to the Napier Hospital in a serious condition, and foui - had miraculous escapes, when a railway jigger, late this afternoon, crashed into a transport lorry at the intersection of the Wairoa Railway and Taradale Road, about half a mile out. of Napier. Richard Thomas, aged 24, railway surfaceman, Napier, was killed. The injured man is P. IT. Dwight, aged 55, railway surfaceman, of Napier. Thomas was in control of the jigger, which was travelling from Westshore to Napier with a “flat top” trailer attached, on which were the other men, all Railway .employties. The lorry was proceeding towards Taradale, and was driven by Donald Mount. of Takapau, who escaped uninjured. When the collision occurred' the occupants of the trailer jumped clear when they saw that a crash was inevitable, and they were fortunate to escape with minor cuts and bruises. Thomas received iterriljle injuries, and was rushed to the hospital at Napier, where he died shortly afterwards. Dwight's condition is reported to he serious.