CAR SMASHED

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 24 March 1925, Page 5

CAR SMASHED

EIGHT PERSONS KILLED

COLLIDED WITH ELECTRIC COACH.

LEVEL CROSSING ACCIDENT

lIV CAULK —PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPY 810 H'l

(Received March 24, 10.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, March 24

Eight peieons were killed when, an electric parcels coach crashed into a motor car at a level crossing near Highett., 13 miles from Melbourne. All the occupants of the car, four men, three women and one child, were killed. Those so far identified are: J. Ala O'Donnell, Miss Ina. Grace, AlacDonnell (junr.), wife and child, and Foley, all of Sandringham. It is believed that the others are Air and Airs Herricks. Aledical opinion is that seven of the victims were killed outright, and the infant died shortly after. The bodies of the adults were shockingly mutilated and flung about the car, which was smashed to atoms. It iis stated that the ear, which wa-t----believed was driven by J. AlacDonnell, was carrying a party of people frohi Sandringham to Cheltenham. There was another car ahead, which cleared the crossing, and as the oar approached the crossing the unfortunate driver tried to act similarly and was caught midway by the coach, which was travelling at fifty miles' per hour. The crossing is approached from a bend, and it is stated to be' very dangerous, it being practically impossible to see an approaching train. The wreckage was scattered over about sixty yards of railway, while at the crossing itself, heavy wooden gates were splintered into pieces, t The police, so far, have been unable to trace a single eye-witness who could give a- coherent account of the occurrence. The level crossing keeper collapsed from shock and is unable to answer any questions.