A RAILWAY SMASH.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1188, 25 July 1911, Page 6

A RAILWAY SMASH.

SHUNTING ACCIDENT AT OHAKUNE. THREE PASSENGERS INJURED. SEVERAL CARRIAGES DAMAGED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Auckland, July 21. The Main Trunk express from Wellington, when, shunting at Ohakune, owing to a mistake in tho points, crashed into a standing train. Two carriages were telescoped, aitd four others damaged, aud had to be left behind. Five passengers were on the platform of one of tho carriages telescoped. Three were hurt, but not seriously. The express arrived at Auckland two hours late this morning. The mishap arose while the refreshment car was being shunted off the express train. It was in the middle of the train, next to the mail van and two second-class carriages. Tho engine and nearly half the train were shunted thrco or four hundred yards down the line. Running back to tho siding at about five miles an hour, the engine-driver evidently considered all clear, but' the train smashed into a detached stationary diningcar, drove it on to tho goods train, and, following up, telescoped two second-class carriages and damaged others, throwing the passengers about in all directions and scattering luggage all over the carriages.

Tho dining-car suffered most. Several passengers standing on the platforms of damaged carriages jumped clear of the two cars which ran into each other. The platforms wero torn-away; one was lifted clear of the lines, and remained supported by the floor of the other. Both cars wero full of passengers, and all were jolted out of their seats. FOUR TRUCKS AND A CARRIAGE DERAILED. (By TeloErapb—Press Association.! Blenheim, July 24. Aji accident occurred on the BlenheirnPicton railway this afternoon near Para. F'rom the meagre details available, it appears that a portion of tho line "was under water, and four trucks and a carriage wero derailed. All the mails on board are being brought back to Blenheim, the train being expected about midnight.