CROSSING SMASH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22717, 1 November 1935, Page 4

CROSSING SMASH

LORRY DRIVER'S NARROW ESCAPE JUMPS ON TO ENGINE FENDER ' V (Peb Uxited Press Association) AUCKLAND, October 31. A miraculous escape from death was experienced by a truck driver,/A. V. Eyah, this afternoon, when the truck he was driving was struck by a northbound goods train a'i the Tolara avenue crossing, New Lynn.' The truck was rolled over several.times and carried 100 vards along the track on the front of the engine. Ryan climbed from the wrecked cab of the truck and jumped on to the fender of the engine, suffering only from a slight cut on the head. On approaching the crossing, Ryan was about to look either way for any oncoming trains when -Ivy attention was drawn for the moment 10 a small child nlaviii" on the line at the centre of the crossing. He saw the child run from the line, but did not notice the train until the actual crash. At the first impact the truck was rolled over several times and across the cattle stop, which is particularly wide at this crossing. Throughout this- ; terrifying experience Rvan clung to his seat in the cab. Then the truck was partly pushed and partly carried along the line for 100 yards, leaving a trail of wreckage. With a <rood deal of presence of mind, Kyan managed to climb from the cab of the truck and took a j.ump on to the fender of the engine, where he was standing little the worse for his experience when the train was brought to a standstill.