EXPRESS HITS GIG

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18895, 10 January 1927, Page 8

EXPRESS HITS GIG

-7—*- " TEMPLETON CROSSING SMASH. FIVE CftILDREN SAFE; HORSE KILLED. When the luvewargill-Chrirf.cb.urc.il express train crashed into a gig on the railway lines at the Templeton crossing at half-past 9 on baturday morning, shattering the vehicle to matchwood and killing the horse instantlv, the five children m the gig had a remarkable escape troro serious injury, if not death. Fortunately they were all thrown clear. Thev were: Ethel Nelson, o.gcd 16; Eva Chatterton, aged 13; Lester Chatterton, aged six; Percy Chatlerton, aged four; and Isabel Chatterton, aged two. . . Ethel Nelson, who was driving tho gig to the Templeton Post Office to collect the mail, suffered a fracture of the shoulder and severe shock as tho result of her fall to the ground. The smash occurred at the Chatter-ton-Chureh road level crossing, northeast of tho Templeton railway station. Travelling from lnvcrcargill to Christchurch; the express, an all-night goods train, was due in Christchurch about 9.40 o'clock. Eye-witnesses state that the train was not moving fast and that the driver exhibited great presence of mind in pulling it up in a short distance.

It appeared that the gig was driven on to the rails just as the engine approached. There are no trees at this particular crossing to obscuro the view of the lines.

Mr and Mrs J. V. Chatterton, who own a farm at Templeton, are the parents of the four young children who escaped unscathed.

When picked up, the_ children, who wero crying and suffering from shock, were taken to their home. The girl Nelson (daughter of Mr Victor Nelson, Templeton) was taken to the Christchurch Hospital, where she now lies. The Hospital authorities reported yesterday that she was progressing satisfactorily. At the time of the accident, she was giving the other children a ride in the gig, which belonged to Mr H. Chatterton, to Templeton, the families being neighbours.