AMIENS TRAIN SMASH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19098, 17 August 1925, Page 9

AMIENS TRAIN SMASH.

TWELVE PERSONS DEAD.

DRIVER LOSES HIS REASON

DISTRESSING SCENES WITNESSED

By Tolecricc—Press Association— Copyright. (Received 5.5 p.in.) Renter. PARIS. Aug. 15. The total casualties in the railway smash at Amiens station wore, 12 killed and 80 injured. Fivo of the latter are in a serious condition, but the others are considered to bo out of danger. The train was unusually full of holidaymakers, most of whom were third-class passengors who' were on the way to tho seaside. Tho train was due to stop at Amictm, but it entered tho station at full speed. Tho engine jumped tho points and dragged off tho luggage van and seven third-class coaches, which wera telescoped and splintered. 'l"he wroi'kago was subsequently hauled slowly on to another track, showing the horrified passengers the results of ono of the worst, accidents which has happened in Franco for a long time. Tho scenes at the wreck were most distressing. Gang 3of men wero soon busily engaged in tho work of clearing the track. Tho driver of tho express has lost his reason and lias been placed in a strait jacket. It is suggested that ho was affected by the heat betoro he left Paris. This would account for tho fact that ho occasionally drove the train at a speed of more than 80 miles an hour. It is now stated that the engine was not derailed, but that tho tender was. Henco, it is suggested that tho signalman may have operated the switch too late. Experts aro of the opinion that tho derailment was duo to the 12ft. tonguo of ono of tho points being torn off and driven into tho cinder-box on the engine. This, before it snapped suddenly, stopped the engine and caused the carriages to bo telescoped, as they met the huge resistance. A reconstruction of tho accident shows that the first coach was completely overturned backward. Tho tl' : rd coach was driven into tho second. The fifth mounted tho roof of the fourth and the rest capsized sideways. M. Laval, Minister for Public Works, stated that it was impossible to make a precise statement regarding the responsibility for the accident. The driver, ho said, was a man with a good record. 110 had been found after the smash wandering along tho track in a stupefied condition. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, M. Briand, who was returning from London, was held up in consequence of tho accident. This caused rumours to bo circulated in i'aris to tho effect that it was his train which was derailed. Actually M. Briand's train arrived a few minutes after tho disaster. It was delayed outside Amiens while the dead and injured wero removed.