WEEK-END ACCIDENTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 7, 8 December 1930, Page 6

WEEK-END ACCIDENTS.

STRUCK BY EXPRESS. WORKER’S MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. (From Our Own Correspondent. WOODVILLE, Dec. 8. “When I saw the express about to strike me, I let go tho handle-bars and grasped tho cow-catcher 1” This was how Mr R. Spicer, 30, a married man, with one child, and employed on tho new bridgo at the Manawatu Gorgo, described how he miraculously escaped death when ho was struck by tho Napier-Wellington express on Saturday afternoon. Mr Spicer finished work at 12 o’clock and left for his homo in Woodvillo shortly after. Knowing that the express left Woodville at 12.2 p.m., ho considered tho PQimancnt way would be clear. However, when the crossing was reached, tho express loomed into viow, and crashed into tho back wheel of the motor cycle. When Mr Spicer saw that he could not avoid the train, with great presence of mind he let go tho handle-bars and grasped tho cow-catcher. Ho“was carried about 100 yards before tho express was brought to a standstill. The crew of the train expected to see tho mangled remains of the unfortunato cyclist when they ran forward, but to their intense surprise, Mr Spicer got off tho cow-catcher and pulled his cyclo clear of tho line. Tho engine-driver did not bring into use tho emergency brakes as ho thought that had tho train been pulled up with a jerk, tho man may havo been thrown under tho wheels.

The injuries sustained by Mr Spicer were negligible, and after tho accident he was taken to his home by one of his work mates, on tho rear of another cycle. Tho cyclo was badly damaged.

CAR STRIKES DITCH. PASSENGERS BADLY HURT. Serious injuries, were sustained by one of the passengers in a car driven by Mr C. C. Beattie, of Feilding, when the vehicle left the road and struck a ditch while overtaking a milk waggon near the Bunnythorpe factory yesterday morning. The four passengers were thrown violently out of their seats, Mr Beattie receiving a gash on the chin and suffering from bruises. Airs Beattie sustained a broken nose, broken kneecap and abrasions, while it is not yet known whether a' leg and two ribs were fractured. Both were taken to hospital. The other passengers were Mi - and Mrs R. Taylor, of Lower Moutere (Nelson) who were cut about, but were able to proceed home. MOTOR-CYCLIST INJURED. A collision between a motor cyclist, D. Ward, of 22 Bourke Street, and a car driven by Mr G. H. Adshead, of 31 Ferguson Street, occurred at thh intersection of Fitzherbert Avenue and Ferguson Street on Saturday afternoon. Mr Ward received a deep gash over his right eye, while two lingers of the left hand were seriously injured. He was removed to Hospital, where it was found necessary to amputate one of the fingers. FALL FROM BRIDGE.

Through falling off the Mangaone bridge yesterday, a Bunnythorpe boy, John Hill, aged seven years, sustained injuries to his left arm. He was admitted to Hospital at Palmerston North, but his condition is not regarded as being serious, and ho was reported on favourably to-day. FATAL INJURIES. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Dec. 7. While crossing a street near his home, Daniel Budge, aged seven, of Dovonport, was struck by a motor car this morning. He received severe injuries to the head and a fractured leg, dying in the Auckland Hospital two hours later.