APPALLING TRAIN SMASH

Taranaki Daily News, 11 June 1932, Page 5

APPALLING TRAIN SMASH

SOVIET SUPPRESSES NEWS

STATION YARD A SHAMBLES

SIXTEEN MEN STAND. TRIAL

CHARGES OF DRUNKENNESS

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Moscow, June 9.

Recalling the railway disaster near Moscow in January, the trial has begun at Petrovsk of 16 officials involved in a hitherto undisclosed crash at Zelouaya on May 15, when passenger trains collided at the station. The station was converted into a shambles. Scores of passengers were mangled, many being unrecognisable. It was alleged that some of the officials were drunk and mistook the signals.

On January 17 the news was released of a railway disaster in which 68 people were killed and 130 injured near Moscow on the evening of January 2.

Two suburban trains left Moscow within an interval of a few minutes. As the first passed Kossino station a drunken man threw himself beneath it. The train was stopped, but the correct signals were not given, and the following train, which was travelling at a speed of 50 miles an hour, crashed into the stationary train, with appalling results. The confusion was increased by a reserve engine which was going to Moscow on the up-track colliding with the overturned coaches which were lying across the line. A fourth train, which was rapidly approaching, was just stopped in time. Darkness added to the horrors of the scene and increased the difficulties of the rescuers. Eleven railway officials were arrested.