HAIRBREADTH ESCAPE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 288, 9 November 1925, Page 6

HAIRBREADTH ESCAPE.

MAIL TRAIN AND MOTOR CAR

BRAKES HARD ON STOP CRASH

STRATFORD, Nov. 6.

An extremely narrow escape from a fatal accident was witnessed at the Mountain road railway crossing at about 9.45 this morning, when a motor car containing Air Crookes, a member of the Auckland City Council, and his son almost crashed into the southbound mail train.

Air Crookes, who is a comparative stranger to this,district, was motoring towards Stratford in a new five-seater car. He was nfit aware of the crossing, but suddenly realised his danger on rounding the bend. The train was by that time just starting to cross the road.

With brakes hard on Air Crookes just managed to slew his car to the right, plunging into the cattle stops and bringing up against the strainer-post of the fence. The stops were broken and the big strainer bent, while the grass at the side of the road was torn up by- the skidding wheels. The righthand front mudguard, springs, etc., were severely' damaged through striking the post, and the left-hand rear mudguard was badly smashed and the body strained through contact with the onrushing string of carriages. Air Crookes, junr, was thrown violently into the windshield, and sustained several cuts on his face from the broken glass. The train drew up some distance further on and backed to the crossing, but soon proceeded on its way carrying deep scratches on the third carriage, the side and one step of which were splintered.