Shocking Crossing Tragedy.

Otaki Mail, 22 May 1933, Page 3

Shocking Crossing Tragedy.

FOUR KILLED WHEN TRAIN STRIKES CAR. ‘ ALL RESIDENTS OF PALMERSTON NORTH. THREE OTHERS SERIOUSLY t INJURED. There was a shocking ending to a holiday trip to Wellington yesterday by a party of Palmerston North residents when a car containing five tulults and two young children was crashed into by an excursion train at. the I’urirua railway crossing. pour of the occupants lost their lives while the other three were seriously injured anil are in Wellington hospital. All were residents of Palmerston North. The killed are:— Airs. Ida Lincoln, aged 35, wife of Frank Lincoln, of Rangitikei line. Airs. Frances Lena Gaskin, wife of J’. W. Gaskin. 7 Bourke Street. -Miss Julia -Maud Enright, aged 23. whose parents reside at Pokangiua. and wlio was working in tea-rooms in Palmerston North. Frances Lincoln, aged 4 years, daughter of Stanley Frank Lincoln.

Air. Lincoln, the owner of the car and probably the Oliver at the time, his tliree-year-olit daughter Joyce anil a young man named Harry Holroytl, who resides in Lyiidlturl Street, were seriously injured. Air. Lincoln is.-a butcher by occupation, in the employ of Air. E. C. Gray. All were friends and had left Pnlmerstoii North by ear yesterday morning about l.Ju to spend the day in Wellington. Mrs. Gaskin wanted to visit a sister and Miss Enright was taking the opportunity to see a friend who is leaving shortly tor Australia. These \isii- had been paid and the party were on the way home when the I rageily occurred. They reached Folium at 5.40 p.tu .-it the time when the excursion train from Wellington to Palmerston North and that from Otaki to Wellington pass each other. The train coming from Wellington was pulled up in the siding and it is thought that tin- ear driver’s attention was attracted to that train as he made the crossing-, and con.-e----11ui'iit!v failed to notice the approach of the second train pulling into Purirun station from the opposite direction.

The car was smashed to matchwood and twisted iron, portions being thrown on to the engine of the stationary ex-

(Considerable difficulty "as also experienced disengaging parts of the ear from the engine which Jirid struck it. Willing hands lent all help possible, but it was soon seen that four of the mi fort mint e occupants of the car were beyond all human aid. The other were taken to hospital in 'Wellington. The Forirua crossing has always been considered a dangerous one. a number-of accidents, some fatal, having occurred there. The view is obscured by station buildings on the right for traffic proceeding from Wellington to Palmerston North, but is fairly open on the left, from which direction the train on this occasion was coming at a fairly fu-t pace. A message from Wellington gives the mu if the injured child as Frances Lincoln (aged three years) and lhe younger daughter of the family. She is suffering from injuries to the head and hips. Air. Lincoln’s injuries are compound fracture of the Tibs, head injury mil shock. Mr. Ilnlrovd is suffering from head and internal injuries and shock. A telephone inquiry to the Wellington Im-pital this morning elicited the iiifoi illation that the condition of the injured was fairly serious. Later. Mr. Lincoln and hi- da lighter are still in a serious way, but Mr. Holryod is reported to have improved.