DANGEROUS RAILWAY CROSSING.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 245, 26 March 1910, Page 5

DANGEROUS RAILWAY CROSSING.

Accident at Ongarue. An alarming accident, fortunately attended by no loss of life or serious injury, occurred on Thursday afternoon "to the Olicrrs-Tfiaii'—coaeh, .which runs between Mangaroa and Ongarue, a distance of thirty miles. The conveyance is owned by Mr Moore, and was driven by one of his drivers. The coach carried three passengers: Mr H. W. Atkinson, of the "Chronicle," on the outside seat, and Mrs and Miss Flett inside. As it approached the first of the three railway crossings •which lead into Ongarue the driver jfcada the remark to his box passenger that it was a very dangerous point. No whistle was heard, and the driver attempted to look ahead, but saw nothing. As the coach reached the line, and the leaders were crossing, the afternoon goods train, two hours late, came round the bend, and though the driver whipped up his horses, the engine caught the rear of the coach and hurled it over against t' r e bank, throwing the driver and Mr Atkinson out, and involving the inside passengers in the wrecked vehicle. It was found that Miss Flett had sustained a nasty cut on the head and was suffering from sprains and shock. Mrs Flett, who was accompanying her daughter to Masterton, escaped with the slightest of injuries, and the other passenger and driver were also similarly fortunate. The rear wheels of the coach were smashed to pieces. The goods train had then pulled up, and Miss Flett was carried to the guards' van and conveyed with the other occupants of the coach to Taumarunui, where Dr Howard attended to her injuries. Mrs and Miss Flett are from the Matiere district, and their many friend-! will be relieved to hear that the accident.was of no more serious a nature. There are three level crossings over the railway one after the other at Ongarue, and not one of them is guarded by gates. The.risks run by coaches when crossing these unprotected crossings is very serious, and the Railway Department May be glad -that things were no worse. The crossing should be protectsd by gates opening automatically after the train is through, and closing on its approach. Otherwise some serious accident will shock the community one of these days.