CROSSING NEAR SHANNON

Wanganui Chronicle, 10 April 1948, Page 4

CROSSING NEAR SHANNON

ONE MAN KILLED, TWO OTHERS INJURED (P.A.) Palmerston North, April 9. One man, an Italian, was killed and two Maoris injured when a truck was struck by the Napier-Wellington express at Makerua crossing, three miles north of Shannon, at 1.30 p.m. today. KTTJ.F.D Luigi Michele Noaro, a middle-aged market gardener, of Opikl, driver of the truck. INJURED. Robert Rore, a middle-aged Maori employed by Mr. Noaro. Peter Heremaia, aged 19, also employed by Mr. Noaro.

The train, which does not stop at Makerua, hit the truck with terrific force, pushing it over an embankment a few yards from the crossing. All three men were thrown clear, Noaro being found some 25 yards further along the line. Four nurses who were passengers on the train rendered first aid pending the arrival of a doctor from Shannon, and the victims were then taken by ambulance to Palmerston North Hospital. The three men had been loading empty sacks on a truck at Makerua station, 200 yards north of the crossing, and were returning to Mr. Noaro's gardens at Opiki. The road from the station to the crossing runs parallel with the line, and then turns at right angles up a sharp incline to the railway, though the view is not obstructed. The vehicle was proceeding in the same direction as the train. As a result of the accident the train was delayed about half an hour.