LEVEL CROSSING SMASH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18760, 13 January 1923, Page 10

LEVEL CROSSING SMASH

CAR CRASHES INTO TRAIN. MOTORISTS’ NARROW ESCAPE. (Per United Press Association.) TE AWAMUTU, January 12. A motor car engaged in the To Awa-mutu-Kawhia service crashed into a train at- £ level crossing near To Awaimitu railivay station last night The oar struck the truck third away from the engine, throwing the trucks off the rails. The car was ■wrecked, its three occupants having a ihiraculous escape. The effect of the impact was to throw the car well into the air, finally leaving its remnants in the reverse direction on the road. The driver (C. C. Berry) was thrown headlong through the wind screen, striking the trucks and lying within six inches of the rails. Two passengers on the bade spat wore thrown clear to the road, one escaping with minor- scratches and' other injuries about the head. Berry was badly out about, and hie nose was’ broken. Tho crossnng is dangerous, the train _ approach being hidden by buildings, and it is surmised that the brakes in this instance failed to act. There have been many narrow escapes from similar accidents here, And the department proposes shortly to erect an overhead bridge as part of a scheme for rearranging the station yard.