ACCIDENT ON THE RAILWAY

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15836, 5 June 1919, Page 9

ACCIDENT ON THE RAILWAY

A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. An accident occurred in the Palmerston North railway yard on Tuesday evening, through which Mr Justin. Ronayne, a married man who with his wife resides at Coutts Street, Kilfcirnie (Wellington), had a marvellous escape from death. It appears that Ronayne, who was visiting Palmerston for the purpose of inspecting the brakes on the rolling stock, had just finished his duties at tbc locomotive shed, and was making bu, way to the station, walking between the rails. Nearly opposite the south signal box the trains leave the main line and run round a loop. Mr Ronayne was apparently unaware of this, and was on the loop line. The second Welling-ton-Auckland express, ninning at over 2) miie.s an hour, ran into him and threw him clear of the rails. The cowcatcher evidently caught him, as his left leg was fractured below the knee, and he also sustained a broken rib. His hat was afterwards found on top of the engine. Neither the driver nor fireman saw the unfortunate man, and the train continued on to the platform, when they reported that they had felt a hump at the spot where the accident happened. When found Ronayne was quite conscious, but badly shaken, and was able to give a coherent account of how the accident happened. As no medical man was available, he was removed to the hospital m an ambulance, where *his injuries were attended to. Enquiries show that be i» progressing satisfactorily.