FOUR YOUNG MEN INJURED

Southland Times, Issue 23716, 14 January 1939, Page 4

FOUR YOUNG MEN INJURED

REMARKABLE ESCAPE FROM DEATH

MOTOR-CAR WRECKED ON RAILWAY CROSSING

(United Press Association) HASTINGS, January 13. Four young men had a miraculous escape from instant death when the car of which they were the occupants was struck by a goods train on the railway crossing at Otane at 8.25 tonight. Three were admitted to the Waipukurau Hospital, two in a very serious condition.

jhe victims are:— Ivan Constable, age about 21, head injuries, lacerations and shock; condition very serious. J. Smith, age about 20, lacerations, head injuries and shock; condition very serious. r ... Roy Spargo, age about 21, head injuries, sprained wrist and concussion; condition not serious.

Rex Miller, age about 21, concussion and shock; condition not serious; not sent to hospital. Travelling west, the car was struck heavily by the engine travelling south and after being carried 25 reet, the car was thrown 15ft from the line . Apparently Constable, who was driving, saw the oncoming train on the right and swerved abruptly across the roadway in an effort to avoid the collision, but the car, which was then on the line, met the locomotive m an almost head-on crash. The car, a five-seater, was reduced to a tangled mass of wreckage, the wheels being torn off and the forepart of the vehicle torn from the chassis. The men were given first aid treatment by the St. John Ambulance and were removed to hospital.

YOUNG MAN FOUND. UNDER BRIDGE SERIOUS INJURIES SUFFERED IN FALL (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, January 13. Suffering from grave injuries, a young clerk, Colin Oldridge, aged 19, who lives in Grafton road, was found in t.ie gully under Grafton bridge, near the eastern end early this morning. He had apparently fallen about 40ft from the bridge on the northern side. In response to a message announcing that there was an injured man in the gully a police party located Oldridge. The injured man was taken to the Auckland Hospital. His condition is very serious. It was reported to the police that Oldridge had recently been in ill health. His parents live in New Ply? • mouth. FARM MANAGER DROWNED (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, January 13. Stanley Oswald Topp, aged 26 years, a farm manager, of Amesbury road, Saltwater Creek, was drowned in the Ashley river about 7.30 pan. yesterday. Topp, with his three sisters and brother and some friends intended bathing in a pool'about 15 feet deep. His brother, Arthur Herbert Topp, went in the pool and got into difficulties. The rest of the party went to his assistance, but did not notice that Stanley Topp was also in difficulties. Arthur Topp, having been rescued by Miss Walshe, of Wellington, and her brother, it was then found that Stanley Topp was missing. His body was later recovered and brought ashore.