MOTOR ACCIDENTS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 10 March 1931, Page 5

MOTOR ACCIDENTS.

TRAIN HITS CAR AT TERRACE END Arthur Percy Butcher, of Maxwell’s line, Awapuni, had a narrow escape from serious injury at 1.30 o’clock yesterday afternoon, when the three-seater ear he was driving was struck by a southbound mixed train on the Albert Street level crossing at. Terrace End. The car was caught by the cow-cat-cher and was carried some distance before the train was brought to a standstill, the brakes having been applied immediately it was seen that a collision was inevitable.

The driver emerged from his wrecked car, and a doctor, who was quickly on the spot, found that lie was little the worse for the experience, only a few bruises being received. The permanent way was slightly damaged and the car was completely wrecked. This is the second accident at Terrace End within the fortnight, and adds to the long list of collisions at this dangerous intersection. WOODVILLB COUNTY ENGINEER’S CLOSE CALL. Reporting to last meeting of the Woodville County Council, the Engineer (Mr W. J. Hawkes) stated: “On Friday, 27th February, returning from Palmerston North, .where I had been on County business, I arrived at the Torrace End crossing about 5.30 p.m., and stopped for the Woodville train to pass. As 1 did not notice any other train, I started to cross, when passengers on the Woodville train called my attention to the Limited. I stopped right on the track, and tried to reverse,, but my enginq stalled. I started it again, and got the car sufficiently back to avert a certain tragedy, but the train, struck the fore part of the car. I consider the conditions at the Crossing in question (with one train following another) are dangerous, as the wig-wag signal continues to revolve for a while after a train has passed, and is therefore useless as a warning against the approach of' a second train.” The chairman expressed regret that the engineer should have met with the accident. His escape had been miraculous, and the wonder was that they were not attending his funeral instead of reading his report, Cr, Sheffield moved, and it was carried, that the attention of the Railway Department be called to the danger of allowing the wig-wag to operate when one train is following another.

CYCLIST RUN DOWN AND KILLED WELLINGTON, Last Night. A cyclist named Hugh Arthur Kreyl, aged 19, who lives in the Esplanade, Petone, was cycling along the Esplanade on Saturday evening with a companion, and when only a few yards from his home/ was struck from behind by a motor car and carried some distance on the bonnet before falling to the ground. He had the base of his skull fracture! and died when being brought to the hospital by the city ambulance. The driver of the motor car concerned was Ronald Keir Duncan.