One Passenger Killed, Three Injured.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXII, Issue 12379, 3 February 1908, Page 5

One Passenger Killed, Three Injured.

(Per United Press Association).

NELSON, February 1.

A serious railway accident occurred at the crossing near Appleby station at 12.20 to-day.

The train to Nelson was approaching the crossing^ when the Nelson-Motueka coach, driven by Charles Bricklands, attempted to cross in front. The horses had cleared the rails when the engine crashed into the torepart of the coach, which was smashed to pieces. There were three .passengers on the coach,, and one of them — Mrs Tilbury, wife of Mr A. J. Tilbury, of the Hutt— was killed instantly, her body being terribly mangled. She evidently was thrown through the Bide of the coach, and the wheels of the engine passed over her body. Both legs were severed from the trunk.

Mrs Tilbury's sister — Miss Susan Walters — was thrown clear of the train, and is suffering from shock and bruises. It is not anticipated that her injuries will prove serious.

Miss Fitall— daughter of Alfred Fittall, of Richmond — was seated on the box, and she also fell clear of the train, but suffered a broken thigh! The driver of the coach — Bricklands — was picked up unconscious from the ruins of the vehicle. He was seriously injured internally, and is in a critical condition.

The dead and injured were placed on the train and brought on to Nelson, where the injured were taken to the' Hospital. The view both ways' at the crossing is not obstructed by trees, and it is difficult to understand why the coach-driver a careful man, who is accustomed to the road — failed to see the train approaching. The coach is in the habit of crossing the line some time before the train reaches that place, but owing to the anniversary holiday the train arrangements to-day were altered, and probably Bricklande was not aware of the change. ■ He is not yet able to give any account of the matter. Mr and Mrs Tilbury were on a holiday visit to Nelson, and Mr Tilbury was following the coach on a bicycle. -A-zi. io<juosit on ~MV S Tilfeuj-w's \x^3^r will be opened to-morrow, but will be adjourned to allow of the ev'uhnce of the coachdriver and other passengers being taken when they arc fit to appear.