CROSSING COLLISION.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18540, 10 April 1930, Page 8

CROSSING COLLISION.

Train Strikes Lister’s Bus. ARCHDEACON FURCHA3 INJURED. (Special to the “Herald.”) CHRISTCHURCH, April 9. Lister’s bus, which left Cljristchurch for Timaru at 2.30 this afternoon, was struck by a goods train at the Hornby level railway crossing, and as a result of the collision one passenger was seriously injured, and two others .suffered minor injuries and shock. The injured are:— Archdeacon H. Purchas, of Geraldine, admitted to Christchurch Hospital with head injuries. His condition is fairly serious. Mrs F. H. Johnson, of Rakaia, admitted to St. George’s Hospital, suffering from slight facial cuts and shock. Her condition is not serious. Mrs Ward, of Bankside, slightly injured ankle and shock. She proceeded home. Mr and Mrs Pritchard, of Riccarton, C. Olson, a youth living in Christchurch, and the driver, G. McMillan, escaped injury. The occupants of the bus had a remarkable escape from a more serious accident. Both the engine and the bus were travelling slowly. The engine caught the bus broadside on, and swung it round parallel with the rails. Practically the whole of the righthand side of the bus was torn off. Archdeacon Purchas was in the front seat, next to the driver, and Mrs Johnson was in the second row. The crossing is unobscured for some distance on both sides of the line. The train left Little River for Christchurch at 11.40 a.m., and the accident occurred at 2.50. Mr and Mrs Pritchard, on the outside of Mrs Johnson, were not hurt. The youth, Olsen and Mrs Ward occupied the third row. Olsen stated that he was struck on the arm by the locomotive, and thrown out on the road when the door was ripped off. He narrowly escaped being thrown under the engine, and showed great presence of mind by turning Archdeacon Purchas’s head away from the railway line. The impact was accompanied by a loud crash, and glass and splintered wood were strewn about for some distance down the line. One of the bus doors was carried on the cow-catcher of the engine, which was pulled up at about fifteen yards from the cattlestop. * Although the left-hand side of the bus body was practically ripped off, the vehicle was able to be driven into a garage nearby. The injured were given treatment by Dr. Robinson Hall, of Riccarton, and the residents in the vicinity of the crossing did all they could to assist them. CONCERN IN GERALDINE. The news of the smash at Hornby came as a shock to Geraldine residents, and it was with great regret that it was learned that the Ven. Archdeacon Harold Purchas, of St. Mary’s Church*, Geraldine, was one of those reported to have suffered serious injuries. Archdeacon Purchas was returning from a meeting of the Standing Comr.ittee of the Synod, of which he was member, and it was his intention to preach at a service last evening. The Rev. E. N. Blakiston made reference to the accident, and asked for the prayers of the congregation. Archdeacon Purchas, who is Archdeacon of Timaru and Westland, is well known throughout South Canterbury. end his gentlemanly manner has won him many friends. A few years ago the Archdeacon was one of the passengers in an Akaroa service car which went over a bank, but he escaped without serious after effects.