LORRY COLLIDES WITH NEW PLYMOUTH EXPRESS

Chronicle (Levin), 20 April 1946, Page 5

LORRY COLLIDES WITH NEW PLYMOUTH EXPRESS

Travelling fast along tlie straight run into the eity, the south bound New Plymouth express was involved in a violent I'ollisioii with a timber lorry on the Fitzroy Mtreet railway level crossing Falinerstoii North, at 3.15 on Thursday. tlie lorry driver recciving severe mulr tiple injuries from which he. died haj.fan hour later. • • : The victim was: — ' -'. Y;-'-'] John Christian Hansen. aged 40 years, a married man with three children, residing at 15 Domain Street, Palmerston North. IMr. Hansen had been to a railway siding to uplift a load of timber, and at the time of the acoident was returning to his depot in Main Mtreet, the vehicle being fully laden. Eye-witnesses state that as the lorry approaehed the crossing, the driver ap peared to apply the brakes when the oneoming train blew its whistle. How ever, the vehicle did not stop and the fast travelling express struck it just behind the cab. The lorry was dragged along for "about 20 yards before it fell elear of the train, still standing upright beside the permaneht way. The force of the impaet showered the lofry's loavl of timber in all direetions, pieces being scattered along the railwky traclcs for approximatel.v lialf a mile. The injured man was rushed to the Palmerston North Publie Hospital; biit died withih half an hour of the accident. Both the lorrv and the railway engine were extensively damaged. The locomotive which was driven by Mr. T. Lange, with Mr. E. W. File, as firematt. was able to proceed under itS own power to the station where it Was replaced for tlie' remain der of the journey to Wellington. The express was delayed only 20 minutes. Miraculous Escape iti Second CfosSing Accident A miraculous escape from more serious cqnsequences was experienced by ]Mr. T. M. I. Ryder and his familfc when the car in wltifch they wei-e ttavelling was struck a glaneing blbiv by a g'oods train on the level crossing at the intersection of Ylain and Princess Mtreets on Thursday morning. Mr. Ryder had waited for one train to go past on the set of rails nearest to him and immediately dlove across thfe linds bahin'd it. A traifi coitiiiig ffofll th6 opposite direction, vision of which was totally obscured by the first train, struck the rear mqdguard of tlie car

just as it'was clearing the seCond set of rails. The occupants escaped with a severe shaking. : Although it is a dangerous procedurc to drive across the railway lines befofe a clear view can be obtained pf, the' tracks in both direetions, it iviust bc noted that an undertaking was. given by the railway authorities some time ago that at no time would two trairts be ai lowed to pass each other on a crossing within the precincts of the Square. As the result of a mishap with a jigger at. Longburn yesterday morning, Mr. F. .^hortland, a ganger employed;b.v the Railway jpepartment qt Lpngbqrn, , "sufferqa '•bfu.ifels abrasioif^, B.e*.i eonfined tb his hbnie. :