LEVEL CROSSING SMASH

Chronicle (Levin), 2 August 1946, Page 4

LEVEL CROSSING SMASH

-Press Association

TWQ SpLDIERS IN CINER ATED TR^CK BURSTS, fLAMES

By. Telegravti-

Vv iv(jL1i\ (tTON, Aug. 1. Two soidiers were kiliecl instautly. apd tiieir b.p^ies • hiciner.ated when an army tf'uck in which they were travelling, eollided with a passenger train at the railway crossing leading to Trentham Uamp tonight. They were JSqrgeant Edward Roy ^otts, whose next oi kin res^clq at Craniey Street, Dargaville. Driver Tho.mas George Calnon, next of kin at 45 Belvedere Road, Wellington. Botli were members o.f the temporary staff attached to Supply and Transport. Tlie truck was the second of (wo returning to camp with sup- , plies of slack coaL The first ofihe trucks crossed the railway lines safely. Its dviyer djd nof hear tbe. crash of the eollision as he clrove on toward the camj) gates. The second truck, a six-wheeler Ioaded with about three tons of coal, was caught by the engine which is said to hqye spunded ite wliistle when the driver saw the truck. The force of the impact, according to onlookers, was tex*rific. THe truck was carried across the cattle stop in the direction of Trentham station, bursting into flames before it came to rest about 45 yards from the eentre of the level crossing. Its cab, in which the men were riding, was crushed almost beyond recognition. Coal was strewn over the crossing and along the side of the railway. trapk. As it was carried on the iTont of the engine, the truck striick first the fe.pcing bcsj(le the cattle stop which was shattered, and next a telepfLOiie pofe, snapping it off. This brought down ihe power and signal Unes of thq railway systera. The signals were , put out of order. The seat in the eaf) of this type of truck is just above the petrol tank and in this case, according to inf'ormation obtained at the ; camp, there were ab.out 24 gallons in the ta>k which burst at the time of the impact. Petrol was sprayed in aU directions, catching fire immediately. It was impossible for the oplookers to do anything to rescue the bodies of fhe men. Fire engines from Trentham Uamp ancl the Upper Hutt Fire Station were quickly on the scene and as soon as the flames had been suhdued, it was seen tLe bodies of the men had been incinerated. The truck was a lefthand drive type and the train approached from the off side.