A SOURCE OF DANGER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23055, 4 December 1936, Page 4

A SOURCE OF DANGER

THE LEVEL CROSSING FOURTEEN DEATHS THIS YEAR Nowhere is the motorist required to exercise more care than at level crossings . Since January of this year there have been 25 level crossing accidents in New Zealand. Fourteen people have lost their lives as a result, and many more have been maimed or injured. The list of accidents up to the end of November is as follows: January I.—Palmerston North: Party of seven travelling in car car struck by train near Kopaturoa, th'-ee miles north of Levin. Occupants unhurt. January 17.—Dunedin. The Rev. J. B. Bickerstaff killed instantaneously when car he was driving was struck by train travelling from Stir ling to Benhar. January 28.—Gore: Percy Millar, driver of motor true'-, killed; May Hoffman, aged 12, Lewis Hoffman, aged seven, seriously injured, when the truck was struck by north-bound express. February 12. Fenclalton: A. Thain, driving a milk van, struck by Rangiora workers' train The van was wrecked, but Thain received only abrasions to the face. March 3.—Hastings: John Reginald Garrett and William John Lamason killed in a collision between the car in which they were riding and a goods train south of Napier. Three other occupants received serious injuries. March i 7 Auckland: James Watts, driving lorry, collided with train at St. George's crossing, Avondale. He was injured March 19.—Auckland: Joseph H. Anslow was killed when driving a truck struck by the south-bound Wellington express ?t the Ohinewai railway crossing. March 23.—Auckland: Miss M. Quinn and Mrs R. Callis, both of Te Awamutu, "'ere hurled 20 yards when their car collided with train. Both escaped without serious injury. March 26.—Woolston: Car driven by Mrs Walter Davidson, of Avoca

Valley, collided with a train. Mrs Davidson received a broken arm and abrasions.

May 23. Rakaia Township: Reginald Foster Palmer died from injuries received when his motor cycle ran into an engine. May 25.—Park road, Addington: Three employees of the Railways Department injured when a shunting engine struck the car in which they were riding. May 25.—Inglewood: An elderly woman received head injuries when an engine struck the motor car in which she and two others were travelling. June 10.—Gore: Mrs Jessie Shaw was killed and four other passengers injured when a goods train struck a sedan car. July 9.—Bunnythorpe: The New Plymouth express struck a car in which Robert Currie and his wife were passengers. Both were killed. July 23.—Clarence road, Addington: David Williamson, of Halswell, received injuries, from which he died, when his car was struck by train July 27.—Langdon's road, Papanui: Leonard Olliver was killed when his car was struck by a goods train. July 29.—Allanton, Otago: Robert Knight was killed instantly when the lorry he was driving was struck by express. August 20. Greymouth: Mrs Maria Brennan walked into train. Severe shock. August 15.—Nelson: Mr Walter Grooby. Engine struck motor car. Driver escaped with bruises. September 4.—Rotoiti: Mi S. Emery. Truck struck by train Oiuober 15.—Taupiri: Mr George Henson. Truck struck by goods train Left truck on line to inquire the way. November 7.—Warrington: Edward Lewis received serious injuries when his light delivery van was struck by the south-bound express. November 12.—Sockburn: Henry Williams received fatal head injuries when a train crashed into his lorry His son. aged five, was also injured. November 30.—Ensor's road (Christchurch): James Stuart Wearn received serious head injuries when his car collided with a goods train. November 30.—Ohakune: Arthur Campbell was seriously injured, and Alf Taylor, the driver, received bruises when the car in which they were travelling was struck by a special train.