MIDLAND EXPRESS CUTS THROUGH GOODS TRAIN

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6807, 10 January 1929, Page 7

MIDLAND EXPRESS CUTS THROUGH GOODS TRAIN

Five People Killed WRECKED COACHES USED FOR BONFIRES TO LIGHT RESCUERS. United Press Association—By Eleetri* Telegraph—Copyright. Received Wednesday, 8.5 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 9. Two coaches of the London, Midland and Scottish company’s north-bound Bristol to Nottingham mail train overturned through collision with a goods train at Ashchurcb. Gloucestershire.

The driver of the express and four passengers were killed and four passengers seriously, and 11 slightly injured. The express engine was derailed with a number of coaches, blocking both lines.

Ambulances were rushed 20 miles from Gloucester to the scene of the accident, which occurred in foggy Chai field, where 15 were killed and 30 injured ir. a similar collision on tho same company's line on October weather, and is within 20 miles ot 13 last year. Huge bonfires from the wrecked coaches were lighted to enable parties of doctors and nurses to carry out the rescue work in the dense fog and darkness.

Three bodies of passengers were discovered amid the tangled mass of ironwork, bringing tho death roll to four. Apparently, tho express cut clean through a goods train, which was shunting across tho track. The carriages were electrically lighted and fortunately, did not catch fire. Lights in some of tho overturned coaches remained burning, thus assisting the rescuers.

Ono passenger lay for hours under the wreckage until a rail crane raised a truck from his crushed foot. Owing to shortage of ambulances at Cheltenham, tho police commandeered motor buses to convey the injured long distances to hospital.