TRAIN HITS LORRY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21789, 19 October 1940, Page 6

TRAIN HITS LORRY

Accident At Washdyke Truck Driver Seriously Injured Donald R. Munro, aged 24 years, a married man with one child, of 56 Church Street, Timaru, the driver of a two-ton truck owned by the New Zealand Express Company Ltd., suffered a fractured skull when the vehicle he was driving was struck by the train from Fairlie at the Washdyke Crossing on the Main North Highway at 10 o’clock yesterday morning. Although the customary blasts of the engine whistle were given when approaching the crossing Munro, who was travelling north, evidently did not hear the train, the engine striking the cab of the truck which was practically wrecked. The cab was tom off the truck and Munro was flung out on to the road. Munro was travelling from Timaru to Washdyke where he was to pick up the Washdyke School children to convey them to the primary schools’ sports at Timaru. The children were assembled at the Washdyke Post Office awaiting the arrival of the truck when the accident occurred. The bonnet of the truck was torn off and projecting portions of the engine were snapped, and the front wheels of the truck collapsed under the chassis. Even the canvas hood over the body of the vehicle was damaged, some of the uprights having been broken. No damage was done to the locomotive.

The injured man was conveyed to the Timaru Public Hospital by the St. John Ambulance and his condition was reported to be fairly serious last night.