MOTOR TRAGEDY.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 February 1926, Page 3

MOTOR TRAGEDY.

FOUR KILLED. „y TELEGRAPH —iM’.ESS /•Safe., OOI'I'IUOIIT. ; PALMERSTON N., Feb. 25. A fearful level crossing fatality occurred at AYyllic’s crossing, two miles north ol Pakapakaumu at 5.50 this afternoon, resulting in the deaths «t two men and their wives. The victims are:— e Mr and Mrs AV. Fnrtlliam, Cuba ot., of the firm of Fordlmm and Chrids, auctioneers, who recently returned from a visit to the Exhibition. Mr and Mrs Wallis, of 22 Nelson St.. Wellington. A little girl. Esther AA'allis. the only other occupant, was slightly hurt and shocked. The train, which leaves Palmerston. North at 3.43, struck a motor lorry which was laden with furniture, which was being taken north to Telioro for Airs Comtek. The vehicle struck full on, and was cut in half, the furniture fieiii"- scattered for 300 yds. Th,. deceased and Lite child were passengers on the lorry, which was conveying a full load of furniture from AVellington to Te lima and the vehicle was negotiating what is known as McKav’s Crossing. It was struck hv the Palmerston— Wellington pas-

senger train, which leaves Palmerston at 3 43 p.m. and is due in AAellmgton ■it 713 The crossing traverses tlie railway line at right angles and the drivers of vehicles have a clear view of the line for 300 yards The bodies wore frightfully mangled Just- before the rails are reached from the AVellington side there is a blight upward rise necessitating a increase of speed. Ihe tram J travelling at about tweiuy-fm ro - per hour and hit the lorry full and square smashing it to pieces n ice occupants were killed ins ant y w U the fourth died on the tram befoie v t‘ s;? c»“« ™ d T K stmlent. 4. «."«.***• talrrf / r Z could f TXf;TOX Feb . of,. The damage to the <ullisioniug motive was so serious that it ha taken off when the tram reached 1 aeka££i‘ trains were sent from Jobn- • il, Bu'kakaiiki on receipt <>l i r .. (»«,.. natelv they were not required. Hector Cameron met the tiain » H riki onlv to find that one o, - Dm women, who was still alive when • placed on a stretcher m the guard, s van at the scene of the accident, M-

ll °The other three bodies were brought along; in the van. The little girl was brought to town and sent to the hospital. Two lady passengers rendered great qi4 to The injured girl. ’

Misfortune still dogged the train, as, oil reaching Jolinsonville, lurtlicr delay occurred through the line being blocked bv a slight mishap to another train at Khomlnllah. The passengers in tbe Palmerston North train were brought to Thorndon by another train arriving two hours late. \ resident of tbe district where the accident occurred states that the cossing in his opinion, is fairly daugcious. It is true that the actual crossing is made at right- angles and there is a clear view of an oncoming tram for three hundred yards, but there is a bend and a bill a short distance away which is apt to claim the motorists whole attention, especially if he had a full load and wished to take the lull on one gear. The resident considers that the dmer in this ease accelerated the- engine to take the rise and the train was upon him before he had time to halt. ltesdioiits of Packakariki state that two of the passengers were seated on top of the lorry load when passing through the township. The furniture was scattered on both sides of the railway track from the crossing to the point where the engine was brought to a standstill.