LEVEL CROSSING TRAGEDY

Manawatu Herald, Volume LV, Issue 4571, 12 November 1935, Page 3

LEVEL CROSSING TRAGEDY

MAN KILLED; WIFE GRAVELY

INJURED.

Christchurch, Last Night.

A man was killed and his wife very gravely injured and another man badly injured in an accident at the Middleton railway crossing about .midday to-day. They were travelling to the Riccarton races when their car ran into an in wardbound race train on - ' the crossing. Those involved were: — Martin Joseph Crowe, farmer, of Morven; killed. Mrs Crowe; seriously injured. E. W, Pidgeon, of 80 Bealey avenue, Christchurch; injured. To-night Mrs Crowe is deeply unconscious and in a grave condition,/suffering from terrible head injuries. Tnere were no near witnesses of the accident, but available information, is that the motor-car was following’ another car north along the Middle Lincoln road. The first car stopped while the outward-bound train passed over the Middleton crossing. The inward train was approaching at the same time, but was obscured from the view of the second car by. the outward train. The first car got across jus/ in time, but the second was moving on to the crossing just as the outward train’s guard’s van cleared. It was struck on the bonnet by the second train, and the car Avas SAVung so violently that the three passengers Avere throAvn out. jMr. CroAve fell partly under the engine and was dragged along with his body caught in the driving rods until the engine pulled up just OA 7 ei tlie cattle stop. His body was dreadfully mutilated. Mrs Crowe was probably thrown against the train and was A T ery badly injured. Mr Pidgeon Avas injured and dazed, but Avas sitting up before some Avorkmen rushed to the crossing to give aid. •The men working nearby \said that both trains whistled loudly on approaching the crossing and /hat neither the car nor the trains Avere traveiling at a fast speed. It seems certain that the accident occurred because the , driver’s sight of the second ’ train Avas obscured by the outward-bound train. There is no warning signal or\ keeper at the crossing. During the last* twelve days four persons have been killed and four injured on level crossings in and near Christchurch.