TWO LIVES LOST

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21211, 5 December 1938, Page 6

TWO LIVES LOST

Crossing Accident at Auckland Car Bursts Into Flames Passenger Burned to Death By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND, December 4. In a collision yesterday afternoon on the Titirangi railway crossing between the northwards bound special goods train and a five-seater saloon motor car, a man and a woman were killed and a second woman was severely injured. The victims were: Killed Charles Purnell Parkerson, married, aged 60 years, retired company organiser and salesman, of Princess Street, Otahuhu. Mrs Angelina Harrison, aged 56, f Norfolk Street, Ponsonby. Severely Injured Miss Evelyn Harrison, aged 38. dressmaker, of Norfolk Street, Ponsonby, and daughter of Mrs Harrison. Struck broadside on by the engine of the goods train wliich had just left New Lynn for Whangarei, the car was carried over the cattlestop, flames coming from it before it was thrown off and came to rest upside down facing the road, a distance of more than 48 feet from the place of impact. Petrol flowed freely, the car being a blazing wreck. Miss Harrison was thrown clear with a lacerated scalp and suffering from severe burns about 30 yards from where the car came to rest. Her clothing was then on fire. She had been sitting next to Parkerson, who was pulled clear by the driver of the train which had stopped just past the car. Parkerson’s clothing was then burning and much of it had disappeared. He was then dead. At that stage it was impossible to rescue the body of Mrs Harrison, who was at the back of the blazing car, the heat of the fire being terrific. Not until the Avondale Fire Brigade arrived and suppressed the flames were the charred and unrecognisable remains of Mrs Harrison removed from the wreckage, which was then little more than a skeleton. It was at first thought that the remains were those of a man, subsequent identification of the body being afforded by a small portion of dress material and some beads. Not until about three hours after the accident was identification made by Robert Moles, a labourer, who resided at the home of Mrs Harrison. Miss Harrison was conscious and inquired about her mother before the arrival of the ambulance, which was summoned at 3.55 p.m. and left immediately for the scene. In the ambulance, which also carried the body of Parkerson, she became unconscious and soon after her arrival at the Auckland Hospital she underwent an operation. Subsequently the remains of Mrs Harrison were conveyed to the mortuary at the hospital in the ambulance. The fireman of the train was so affected by the accident that he was unable to continue the Journey and had to be taken to his home. Another fireman had to be found 1 and the train was delayed for 40 minutes.

The occupants of the car had been for a drive to Titirangi and were returning when they approached the Great North Road. According to Reginald Earl, aged 17, who witnessed the accident, the locomotive whistle sounded twice and the bells were ringing on the crossing. "I thought at first the car would just clear the engine,” he said. “Then there was a crash.”

Other eye-witnesses were a man and his little girl. The father was holding up his child to see the train pass when the collision occurred. The Titirangi crossing has been the scene of much constructional activity for some time. A newly aligned track was recently laid to replace the former line, and high banks have been formed in preparation for the erection of an overhead railway bridge to eliminate the level crossing.