INJURED SORTED OUT ON GRASSY FLAT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22571, 26 February 1948, Page 6

INJURED SORTED OUT ON GRASSY FLAT

As the injured were released and helped from the wreckage they were taken to a grassy flat alongside the line at the end of the cutting and were sorted out into some order of seriousness.

The medical team tended the most serious cases as soon as they were freed and others were given attention by nurses and voluntary helpers.

Many required. morphia injections before they were able to stand the road journey into Blenheim. Stretchers were improvised from parts of timber which could be torn away from the wreckage. At one stage the grass flat was almost covered with cot cases.

Many passengers had amazing escapes. One man was hurled through a gaping hole in the side, of the second carriage after it had gone past the engine. He landed on the side of the track away from the wreckage.

A young Rotorua woman who was in the second carriage was lifted bodily from the seat and hurled through what was left. of the window on to the gravel at the side of the line. A woman and five young children in the second carriage escaped with onb' a severe shaking. “Our carriage came abreast of the onainp Pn d hard alongside it," said Mr N. M'-Urie. Oamaru. “Some dashed foi the doors to see if they were free St' > "m was escaping from the engine and we were frightened that at any mi-i'te the bo :l er might blow up.” Mr. R. S. W. Owen, Christchurch cr-d Ibat the men in his carriage broke the windows to effect an escape and

many passengers were actually helped through these windows. Mr. G. L. Bradley, Hamilton, said they had no hint beforehand of what was about to happen, although the train seemed to be swaying and vibrating before it suddenly heeled over. As the sound of the crash died down there were cries Irom the injured and frightened passengers. said Mr. V R Rowe. Te Rapa “I did not know which way to turr. There were in jured people all round and 1 gave what assistance I could to get them from the tangle of steel and woodwork.”

Mrs. Alison Smith, who boarded tne train at Seddon. said she had just settled down in her seat when there was a grinding noise, followed by a terrific smash. She was thrown through the window cleci of the track. Mrs. Smith and Mr W Black, M.L.C.. went up to the highway about a quarter of a mile away and stopped a car to request the driver to get help from Seddon.

The driver of the train, Mr J. W. Guirr, Christchurch, was among those who were badly injured. The fireman wf- uniniured. The acting-Mimpter or Railways, Mr F Hackett made a special trip by car from Christchurch io the cutting, reaching the scene about 10.15 last nb’ht.

Three high officers of the department. who (lew from Wellington, were *he assistant general manager. Mr. T. R. Rvsor», Mr. H. C. Lusty, chief en•’incer: and Mr. R. Amos, chief mechanical engineer.