DOUBLE CROSSING ACCIDENT.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 2024, 13 September 1913, Page 6

DOUBLE CROSSING ACCIDENT.

ASHLEY FARMER KILLED

tFrssa Association.—By Tolsgraph Ohristc 'urch, Last Night

A fatal acoident occurred at Raniora High street railway orossing this morning, when the incoming north express train rau into a five-horse lorry, driven by W. Banks, of As.ley, was going for a load of coal when the train struck his conveyance on the fore carriage, cutins the horses fiee witn part of the forecarriage an'l the wheel, the body of the vehicle being taken over the cattle pit anl thiowing the driver further on Banks was ba ly orusbea in the head andj body and lingered about ha f an hour without regaining consciousness. The crossing-keeper's son was at the crossing to give warning and his mother, Mrs Humphreys, seeing t H e danger rushed out to resone him, when both were knockel down by the horse and part of the lorry, and considerably injured. Banks was a marriel man with threo chil ren.

An eye-witness state* that it was apparent that Banks, though a very st oug man, to some extent lost control of bis team, which might ha\e been caused by the load w istling of the train. Toe lorry shot oat from buildings in the street au instantly the traiu was seen to come on to orossing before anything coilJ be done to prevent collision. Mr 3 Humphreys, the crossingkoeper's wife, waving a green flag, made every effort to stop the lorry coming on to the crossing and went right into the mid le of tie road, waving the flag. Tfae horses escaped with one wheel and part of the forecarriage. T> is must i ave come in ooutact; the cr ssing keeper's wife who was picked up severely injpred. She waa for a time unconscious

Her son, seven years of age, who was standing near her, received a aeveie scalp woand and wa'. also rsndere i unconscious.