Crossing Collision

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19363, 17 September 1934, Page 8

Crossing Collision

SMASH AT POKENO. TRAIN HITS MOTOR-CAR. THREE OCCUPANTS INJURED. TWO SERIOUSLY HURT. Serious Injuries were received by a married woman, Mrs Sarah Charlton, of Helensvllle, aged 64 years, at Pokeno to-day, when the car In which she was travelling was hit by the Rotorua express. Tho driver of the car, Mr Richard Knight Keith, of Pokeno, aged 41 years, also received severe Injuries. Both were oonveyed to the Waikato Hospital, o where tho condition of the woman Is reported to be the more serious. A small boy, the son of Mr Keith, was also in the car at the time, but he escaped with a broken arm, and as lie bad just recently left the Auckland Hospital lie was taken there in preference to the Waikato institution. Drove On to Line. Mr Keith’s wife had alighted from the car to open the gale leading on to the railway. She saw the train and signalled to her husband to stop but apparently lie did not notice her, as lie drove on to the.line as the train came up.

The train was travelling at a good speed, and the rear portion of the car was badly smashed, the occupants being thrown out along the track. The express pulled up, and after two nurses who were travelling on the train had rendered first aid, the Injured adults were placed In the train and brought to the Waikato Hospital. The crossing, which is situated on a side road some distance from the township of Pokeno, is of an open nature, and is not considered to be very dangerous.

Mrs Charlton, who is a resident of Helensvllle, was on a visit to Mrs Keith at the time of the accident. ■ Mr. Keith Is a well-known farmer in the district.