COLLISION AT CROSSING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19721, 22 August 1927, Page 8

COLLISION AT CROSSING.

ENGINE STRIKES TRAILER. MOTOR* TRUCK JUST CLEAR, NARROW ESCAPE OF TWO MEN. LIMITED EXPRESS DAMAGED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT, j FEILDING, Sunday. A collision between a power-board truck, with a trailer attached, and the South-bound limited express, occurred at. Gladstone Street crossing at 6.30 a.m. to-day. The truck was driven by Mr. Butler and manned by Mr. Walters. Th engine and trailer were severely damaged, but no one was injured. The truck and trailer were proceeding from the power station in ; Eyre Street. Although the truck itself got clear in the nick of time, Mr. Butler was not able to accelerate sufficiently. The express crashed into the trailer, the connecting link with the lorry snapping like matchwood before the force of the impact. The wheels of the trailer crumpled up, and it was carried upwards of 50 yards along the track before it was thrown clear. Slackening speed, the train came to a stop near the South Street crossing, when it was discovered that the engine had been badly damaged. However, the train was able to continue its journey to Palmerston North shortly afterwards. Mr. Walters said he and Mr. Butler had a miraculous escape. Mr. Butler said the Gladstone Street crossing was one of the worst in Feilding, on account of the trucking yards in the vicinity. The railway goods shed obstructed all view of the line at the approach from the gas works, and it was difficult to ascertain whether there was any traffic on the line until right on the crossing. Had the train approached a second sooner it would have caught the lorry squarely, but, on the other hand, had it arrived a second ~ later the lorry and trailer would have been clear of the line.