CROSSING SMASH

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 20 October 1927, Page 5

CROSSING SMASH

MOTOR CAR AND TRAIN THREE MEN ESCAPE DEATH. WRECKAGE ALONG THE TRACK. After being carried on the cowoatcher of a railway locomotive for about 20 yards, a Wolseley oar with three occupants was thrown aside, a complete wreck, near the Hastings railway station platform this morning. The 9.20 a m. Waipukurau train bound for Napier had crashed into the oar at the Heretaunga street crossing. The three occupants of the car were John Richardson. M. Severinsen and W. J. Christensen, all of Makaretu, and thev were couijug from Waipawa. Mr Sevrinsen. who is an elderly man. suffered the most injuries, ents and' bruises being inflicted all over his body, but when removed to the hospital he was quite conscious. The other two occupants of the car escaped with but a severe shaking and a few slight bruises. The driver, Mr Richardson, and Mr Severinsen were occupying the front seat of the car. with the other occupant in the back. WHAT THE SIGNALMAN SAW. "When the train was well down the line I stood on the road and allowed two oi- three cars to pass.” stated Mr F. R. Phillips, the signalman at the crossin- to a “Tribune” reporter just after the accident.. "1 heard the car behind, and saw it pull up hut evidently the driver left it. in gear, for it came on to the line and stalled. 1 said to them. ‘You will have time to get out and save yourselves,’ and I immediately gave the train the stop signal.” He explained that at the time of the impact the train was going very slowly, and was almost to a standstill. He was positive that the occupants could have been clear of the rar had they been quicker. HESITATION ABOUT LEAVING CAR. "As the car was standing on the line I saw both doors open and two people get out on to the runninuboard. but thev went back into the car,” stated Mr H. T. Tuohv, who was on the station platform at the time. "They got back into the car just a second before the train hit, it. "Oh, yes, I saw the engine, and we tried to stop, but the cur went on to the line,’’ was all that Mr Christensen could sav about the matter. He was in the hack sent, and did not remember endeavouring to get clear of the car. TRAIN WAS MOVING SLOWLY. Speaking to the engine-driver of the train, the reporter was told that at the time of the impact the train was travelling about four to five miles an hour. “As soon as I saw the signal 'Stop,' I applied the Westinghouse brakes, but there was a heavy load of 16 cars on at the hack, and this carried us further than usual.” he said.

"Thev were darned luckv. and should buy a ticket in Tatt’s.” commented one eve-witness of the accident. He stated that the engine caught the car just behind the driver’s seat, and lifted it, the bonnet hitting the tank-posts iust on the station side of the street- Here it was partly dislodged hut had to he rolled clear of the locomotive