TOLL OF THE CROSSING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 5 January 1929, Page 6

TOLL OF THE CROSSING.

MANY FATALITIES OCCUR

BAD RECORD OF PAST YEAR

Tiie distressing accident on a Christchurch Iqv.ql crossing on Monday marks the close of a, year which has been marred by a very large number or fatalities at railway crossings, says the Auckland “Herald.” The tolL of life and property at crossings since the beginning of the year has been great, in all 14 persons having lost their lives and 42 being injured. Forty-four vehicles of ditt'erent kinds have been damaged or destroyed, the majority of these being motor-cars. The list of accidents is as follows: January 10.— Atyx crossing, Christchurch: Electric train strikes mo-tor-car; damage to car. 12. —Riccarton crossing: Goods train hits car; car and occupants escape

injury. 15. —Argyle Street crossing, Auckland: Train strikes motor-lorry; slight damage done. On December 24, 1927, a woman was killed at this crossing, and on December 10, 1927, three persons in a car were seriously injured, in collisions with

engines. February 9. —Pirongia Road crossing, near Te Awamutu; Limited express runs into sheep, killing five. 12. —Tabekeroa crossing : Train strikes bullock team, one animal killed,

another badly injured. 13. —Church Street crossing, To Papapa: Train strikes motor-van; Chinese gardener severely injured. 28.—Frankton station crossing: Train

hits motor-car, which was severely

damaged; two occupants escape. March 17. —Mangere crossing: Train hits milk-float, horse killed, float wrecked; driver narrowly escapes. April 4. —Hampden, South Island, crossing: Express hits motor-car, which was smashed to pieces; two occupants have narrow escape.

April 22.—Wiaipa Hotel crossing, near Ngaruawaihia: Goodis. train damages

motor-car. April 23. —Totara Avenue, New Lynn: Train kills pedestrian. May 9.—Studhoime Junction crossing : Timaru train strikes motor-car,

killing one man and injuring an-

other. June 5. —Taupiri quarry crossing: Train strikes and extensively damages motor-lorry. 11. —Randif -Street, Robo-rua: Oar runs into train; car -severely damaged; driver injured. 14.—We-st Street, Palmerston North: New Plymouth express strikes lorry carrying benzine; -lorry badly damaged by lire and benzine burned. Two occupants severely burned and

suffer from shock. 17. —Tomoana crossing, near Napier : Wellington express strikes niotoiivan, killing one man and badly injuring another; motor-van wreck-

ed. 19. —Frederick Street, Hastings: Tram strikes lorry laden with benzine;

driver escapes. 26.—• Crossing near Wanganui: Engine strikes motor truck, severely injuring driver, whose arm was later amputated; lorry wrecked. 26.—Church Street, Southdown : Limited express strikes motor-bus; driver slightly cut in jumping clear, bu,s compieteily wrecked. It had no passengers. Train damaged. 29.—Gladstone Road cro-skaing, Auck-

land: Train hits milk van; driver

severely injured. July 15. —Hawera crossing: New Plymouth express wrecks horse-drawn waggon; farmer dies from injuries. 15.—Colombo Street, Christchurch:

Shunting engine hits motor-ear; vehicle badly damaged. 18. —-Prebbleton crossing, Christchurch:

Train hits motor-car; driver iseri- . ously hurt. 26. —Princess Street, P-a-lmerst-on North: Napier express istrik.es motor-cydlle; rider severely injured. August 2. —Dunsandel crossing, Canterbury : Night express hits motor-car; youth and woman killed; another

occupant hurt. 12.—Shannon oroissing: Auckland express hits motor-car; two occupants seriously hurt. 12. —Matamata crossing : Special train strikes motor-car; woman and baby killed; two other persons hurt. 13. —Princess Street, Palmerston N. : Train hits motor-car; driver receives injuries. 25. —Fenton Street crossing, Stratford : Engine strikes pedestrian, who is killed instantly. _ 26. —Waimato crossing: Train hits gig; driver sustains severe- cuts; horse killed. September 6. —Hunterville crossing : Mixed train strikes motor-ear, which is destroyed; driver escapes narrowly. . . 10.—Addington crossing : Train hits motor-car; occupants escape unhurt. 15.—Rattray Street crossing, Dunedin : Goods train hits motor-car; one- occupant injured. 27. —Rayner’s Road crossing. Huntly : Goods train hits motor-car; occupants escape. . October 2.—Tariki crossing, Taranaki: New Plymouth train strikes motorcar ; woman driver hurt. IQ. Grey Street crossing, Claudelands : Rotorua express wrecks motor-car; driver only .slightly injured. 30. —Aramoho crossing, Wanganui: Train strikes motor-lorry; boy re-

ceivGs injury. November 1. —Ashburton crossing: Niglit express hits motor-car; woman injured. . . Ki.—Broadway crossing, Picton : Irani wrecks motor-car; woman killed instantly; three others injured. oj Woolston crossing: Tram hits Public Works lorry; one passenger killed; six others hurt. 27 —Bruntwood crossing, Cambridge: Train strikes ear; woman driver

escapes. . , December l.—Frankton Forest Lake Road crossing, Frankton : Goods train hits motor-car; one occupant killed ; three others injured. (5 —College Road crossing, Gisborne: Train strikes lorry; driver killed 17 —Broadway crossing, Picton : Goods train strikes taxi; driver escapes; five trucks derailed. . US. —Kaikohe Station crossing : Train strikes motor-lorry, which is smashed to pieces ; driver hurt. 31. Weedons crossing, Canterbury: Train hits motor-car; child killed outright; six other occupants injured; car completely wrecked. _ The new year- xias neguri tragically in this matter of accidents at the crossing. The mishap at Horotiu on Tuesday was the cause of three deaths, two other persons in the wrecked car being seriously injured.