Crippled Koputaroa Woman Killed

Chronicle (Levin), 6 December 1949, Page 4

Crippled Koputaroa Woman Killed

(Special to "Chronicle")

Train Hits Car At Crossing In Palmerston North

PALMEBSTON N., X)ec. 6. • A suooking tragedy occurred. . 4 yesterday as a result of a level - crossing accident at the Ruahine • and Main Streets intersectiqn when the sonthbound New Ply* mouth to Wellington express - crashed into the front of a car which had stalled on the crossing . vyith its' front wheels over one of . the traeks. An elderly woman passenger who was alone in the car at the time could see the train hurtling to ward her but because she was partially crippled with ar.thritis she was unable to effeet her escape from the ear and received extensive injnries to "which she succumbed in the Palmerston North hospital three hours later. She was: — MRS. G, SCHULZ, who resided with her husband at Koputaroa, six miles from Levin. The driver of the car was Mrs. S. Kilsby,' also of Koputaroa, and they were returning from the Palmerston North Hospital where Mrs. Kilsby had taken Mrs. Schnlz for treatment for her arthritis. The ear stalled as the front wheels crossed the first lines - of the traok on which the New Ply mouth express was travelling. \ ain efforts were made by Mrs. Kilsby to get the car started. Mrs. Schulz, it is understood, then saw -the train approaching down the line and eried a warning to Mrs. Kilsby who immediately got ont of the car and endeavoured to push it clear of the line. She was unable to get the vehicle in motion, however, and with the train rushing tow ird the car she rushed up the line holding np her hand inan effort to stop it, but her warning must have come too late for the train crashed into the front o'f the car ar.d swung it broadside 011. It is believed' Mrs. Schulz might have been attempting to escape from the car and that she had succeeded in getting the car door open for hei left leg was severed below the khee. The train came to a halt within about half of its own length. Mrs. Schulz was rushed to hospital by ambiilanee but she died at 6 p.m, The car, although damaged about the front where it received the full impact of the train 's weight was surprisingly not extensively damnged. Mrs. Schulz was born in Pal- • merton North and was married at* Sanson. With her husban'd, , she came to Koputaroa some 13 , years ago. For many years before his retirement, Mr. Schulz was ; sharemilker -on the property oi s Mr. W. E. Kilsby, Koputaroa. Mrs. , schulz was well known and re- , spected t'hroughout the district. i She leaves her husband, three ■ soms and five daughters to_ whom ' the sympathy of the district will be extended. The funeral will be : held in Levin tomorrow.