FALL UNDER TRAIN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 1, 3 January 1939, Page 8

FALL UNDER TRAIN

YOUNG MAN LOSES LEG AND ARM TRIED TO BOARD MOVING CARRIAGE I Per Press Association.] NEW PLYMOUTH, Jan. 2. Shocking injuries to his left teg and arms, and to nis chest were received i by Andrew Wilson, aged 17* years, ol Manunui, when he attempted to board a Taumarunui excursion train as it moved out of New Plymouth railway station on Sunday at 5.6 p.m. After being picked up from the track when the train had passed he was rusheu by ambulance to the hospital, where his condition to-day was reported to be critical. The train had just started and was travelling at about ten miles an hour when Wiison, carrying a parcel under his right arm, sprinted through the eastern entrance to the station and made a dash for the front of the third-from-last carriage. Despite a warning shout from a station official, he jumped toward the step of the carriage, but missed a grip of the handrail with his left hand and collided heavily with the moving train. The impact threw him full length on to the station platform with his legs projecting over the edge, ks a result his feet were struck by the r earward cars as they passed, and, rolling over, he was dragged off the paitform to fall on the side of the track. Because of a curve in the track it was nof possible for the engine crew to see what had happened. The train was brought to a standstill within 100 yards or so, apparently as a resutl of a signal, or the application of the emergency brake. Amputation of both the left leg and arm was found necessary at the hospital. Wilson had come from Manunui on the excursion train to spend the day at Ngamotu Beacfv MOTOR-CYCLIST BREAKS LEG AND ARM COLLISION WITH A TRUCK [ Per Press Association.] GISBORNE, Jan. 2. A motor mechanic, D. N. Wilkins, aged 18, suffered a broken leg and arm on Saturday evening when his motor-cycle was involved in a collision with a light truck driven by Mr. J. B. Jeffered, in Tokomaru township. The injured youth was taken to the Tepuia Hospital and it was reported to-day that his condition was comfortable. CAREER OF LORRY OUT OF CONTROL ON STEEP HILL TWO PEOPLE INJURED [ Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON) Jan. 2. Extensive damage was done by a motor-lorry owned by the Wellington Concrete Pipe Co., Ltd., which became out of control at the top of one of the steepest hills in Wellington, Rodrigo Road, at Kilbirnie, and careered wildly down ta- the bottom snortiy after 6 o’clock on Sunday morning. The lorry narrowly missed a motorcar parked on the right at the top ot the road and charged over to the left, where it hit another car, carrying it about 33 feet down the road and smashing in the back and ripping out seats. It then slewed over to the right again and mounted the footpath, carrying away a gate and a number | of fence palings and smashing a tele- ' graph pole in two. Continuing down the road, it failed to take the bend and crashed through the door of an I empty garage, coming to rest o n its ■side. None of the three occupants was seriously injured. The driver, J. Summers, lorry driver, of 11 Imperial Terrace, received a lacerated wound over the right eye and abrasions to the right ear. Mrs. M. Danby, of 17 Tlrangi Road, received slight concussion, and F. Danby, metal worker, was not injured. Nearby residents, hearing the sounds of splintering woodwork, ran to the aid of the occupants of the lorry and assisted them to free themselves from the wreckage. The lorry was extensively damaged. YOUNG MAORI DROWNED TRAGEDY ON LAKE ROTOITI [ Per Prcbs Association.] ROTORUA, Jan. 2. Hapeta Whata, a Maori labourer, aged 22, lost his life late yesterday afternoon as a result of being apparently seized by cramp while swimming at Otaramarae, Lake Rotoiti. A Maori girl, who was rowing a boat nearby, stated that Whata appeared to be skylarking in the water and attempted to race the boat. She turned to row back to the shore and heard him call out to her to coms batk, but, thinking he was still skylarking, took no notice. When she reached the shore another native told her that Whata was really in difficulties and she returned, but the man sank before she could reach him. The police later recovered the body in twenty feet of water. MOTOR-CYCLIST HITS TRAIN SEVERE INJURIES RECEIVED. [ Per Pt ess Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 3. Harry Blanchard, mrrricd, of 6 Konini Street, Riccarton, received serious injuries when a motor-cycle he was riding, struck the carriage on a special train at Christchurch from Greymouth, on a crossing at Islington, about 4 p.m. to-day. Blanchard was taken to the Christchurch Hospital by the St. John Ambulance suffering from a fractured arm, fractured ribs, and shock. His condition, though serious at firs:, showed slight improvement about 10 o'clock to-night.