CROSSING SMASH

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 251, 4 August 1937, Page 6

CROSSING SMASH

FATALITY AT TEMPLETON. EXPRESS TRAIN STRIKES CAR. i 1 FARMER LOSES HIS LIFE. (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. At the railway crossing at Templeton on the main south line at 9 o’clock this morning, Mr Frederick Fine, a married fanner, of Templeton, was killed outright when the motor-car which he was driving was struck by the south-bound passenger express from Christchurch. The express, which had two locomotives, was four minutes late in leaving Christchurch and consequently was a few minutes late in arriving at Templeton. The crossing is a clear one when approached from the main road and is about one and a half chains wide. Rain was falling and there was a moderate south-westerly wind at the time of the accident. INJURED BY FALL OF COAL. WESTPORT, August 3. Mr John Jack, a miner, married, aged 49, employed at Westport-Stock-ton mine, was admitted to the district hospital to-day suffering from a fractured pelvis, a fractured spine and internal injuries as a result of a fail of coal in the mine. His condition is serious. YOUNG MINER LOSES FINGERS. WAIHI, This Day. The tops of the thumb and forefinger of the left hand of Richard Gardiner, a young married man, a trucker in the Martha mine, were shattered when an explosion occurred as he was tapping sawdust from the detonator in a low level underground yesterday. Amputation of the injured fingers was necessary. CHILD DROWNED IN CREEK. CHRISTCHURCH, August 3. George Ropata, aged five, second son of Mr and Mrs M. Ropata, was drowned in the main creek running through the pa at Little River this afternoon. The boy bowled a motor tyre along a log crossing the river and followed it. He fell into 10 feet of water. Another boy ran for help, which arrived too late.