EXPRESS HITS CAR AT MONRAD ST. CROSSING

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6868, 25 March 1929, Page 6

EXPRESS HITS CAR AT MONRAD ST. CROSSING

MOTOR DRIVER INJURED. When approaching Palmerston North at 12.35 p.m. on Saturday the north bound Napier express struck a liveseater car on the Monrad street level crossing, inflicting serious injuries on the driver Mr William Rickard, aged 4S, a resident of Monrad street, The other occupant of the car, Mr. W. J. M. Jones, miraculously escaped with slight injuries. It appears that the car was being driven into Main street across the rails when Mr. Jones noticing the approaching train and realising that a collision was inevitable made on effort to scramble over to the rear seat. His move was a wise one, for when the impact occurred ho was thrown into the back of the car and escaped with a cut over one of his eyes. The driver, Mr Rickard, was not so fortunate, receiving scalp wounds, a fractured arm and a cut on tho face. He was in an unconscious condition when removed to tho hospital. Prom details it was possible to gather, it appears that the engine stalled on the slight rise leading up to the rails and an effort was made to back the car off the line. The projecting West in gho use pipe on the engine struck the front left hand wheel and bonnet of the car, forcing the motor clear of 'the line while dragging it towards the cattle stop. The express engine did not escape undamaged. The part which struck the car was torn off and a new engine had to be attached to the train at Palmerston North. The occupants of the car wcto decidedly lucky not to have been hit broadside on by the express which is scheduled to do 40 miles per hour past tho crossing. The train was pulled up within its own length after tho collision. It is understood that Mr Rickard used the crossing where the accident occurred daily. Enquiries at the hospital last evening brought the information that Mr. Rickard was progressing favourably.