THE DEADLY CROSSING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20106, 17 November 1928, Page 10

THE DEADLY CROSSING.

CAR WRECKED BY TRAIN.

WOMAN KILLED INSTANTLY.

OTHERS SERIOUSLY INJURED.

SMIASH NEAR PICTON STATION. [l! V TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] BLENHEIM. Friday A railway crossing accident, resulting in the death of Mrs. J. K Hannah, wife of the manager of the Hank of New Zealand, Picton, occurred at 11 o'clock this morning at the snot known as tho Broadway Crossing, when the morning train from Blenheim to Picton crashed into a motor-car driven by Miss B. E. Chaytor, of Picton.

Miss Chaytor, who was accompanied by Mrs. Hannah, Mis. Mark Latter, of Waikawa Road, Picton, and Miss K. Hursthouse, of Wellington, was proceeding from Picton to Marshlands, near Blenheim, at the time of the accident. At tho Broadway Crossing two streets intersect in tho rough form of an X. They are Broadway Street and Auckland Street, but at the crossing Auckland Street changes its name and becomes Wairau Road. The usual route from Picton to Blenheim is along Broadway Street to the crossing, where one switches into Wairau Road. Miss Chaytor was following; this route. Tho engine caught tho car near the cattle stop, flinging it completely over with such force that, witnesses declaro that *it somersaulted twice in the air. Mrs. Hannah was killed instantly. Mrs. Latter was ilung right over the train on to a grassy bank on the far side, and Miss Chaytor and Miss Hursthouse were thrown clear many feet away.

.Miss Chaytor suffered severe leg injuries, necessitating the insertion of 24 stitches, and is also suffering severely from shock. Her condition is somewhat serious. Misis Hursthouse suffered severe bruises and shock and is also in the lospital. Mrs, Latter, an elderly widow, although suffering severely from shock and abrasions, insisted on being taken home, where she lives alone. Later in the day she was discovered by friends to be suffering from the effects of a blow on the head and from shock, and she was taken charge of by neighbours.

Those who witnessed the accident state that it was marvellous that the whole party were not killed and this opinion is confirmed by the appearance of tho car, which is wrecked.

Miss Hursthouse, who is a cousin of the Chaytor family, was spending a holiday with Mr. and Mrs. H. P. Stace, at Marshlands, and had been on a visit to Miss Chaytor at Picton. Miss Chaytor was motoring her back to Marshlands f at the time of tho accident and the other ladies went along for the ride.

Tho accident threw quite a gloom ovei Picton this morning, and much sympathy is expressed for Mr. Hannah and Miss Joyce Hannah. Mrs. Hannah was very popular in social circles and her loss will be greatly as she has taken a prominent part in affairs during the three years she had been resident in Picton. Her sod is in the employ of the Bank of New Zealand at Woodvillc. The family came here from Pahiatua.