SHOCKING SMASH.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1358, 8 February 1912, Page 5

SHOCKING SMASH.

ON RAILWAY. TRAIN CRASHES INTO MOTOR. OCCUPANTS KILLED, IBy Tolccrash-Proßs AasecJaUon.l 'Christchurch, February 7. A shocking accident occurred at the Styx railway crossing shortly after noon to-day, when Uio north (rain from Christchurch ran into and smashed an Overland motor-oar, and killed its two occupant*Kfi 1 Br?W l', Ot ", K " iplinsr Htrool; > Adc mgtun, in the employ of the New/ealand 1 armors' Co-operative AssociaJ, On V^ K i ilclcr of 11 Angus .Street, Chnstchuroh. formerly in the employment of the- Dresden "Pinno ComAt the time of tho. accident the ear was proceeding to town, and just prior to tho smash it was seen to bo travelling at u lust pace. J'he crossing is n, dangerous °"°' approaeluM trains being obscured, whilst tho easterly wind which was blowing would prevent the engine's whistle being heard by the occupants of tho ear .1 ho result was that the engine caught tho car lairly in tho middle and carried it along ior 23 yards. Petrol Tank Explodes. When first struck there was still a slight chance, for the occupants, but a points lever was encountered, and the car must have been pinned between this and tho engine. Ihe petrol tank immediately exploded, and nothing but a few fragments of tho car remained to tell the tale. Praosden must have been killed instantaneously, but Brown breathed for a few minutes after, though he did not again recover consciousness. Brown's injuries consisted of a fracture at'tho base of the skull and a compound fracture of the right leg. Fransden's head was also injured, and his right foot cut off. ' Brown was a married man about, 28 years of age. Fransden,' who was also married, was older than Brown. He held a position as outside salesman to the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association, and is stated to have boon an expert driver. It is considered in certain quarters that, taking all the circumstances of tho case into consideration, and judging by the position of the bodies, that it was not Brown who was driving, but Fransden. Fransden was considering the purchase of a car, and it is thought 1 very likely that this was the reason of his being with Brown. Immediately after the accident the train pulled up in its own length. _ An examination of tho front of the engine reveals absolutely no damage. It is stated that there have been several minor accidents at tho Styx railway crossing, and many narrow escapes of more serious accidents. Approaching trains arc practically obscured from the sight of anyone in the road by the high thick hedges which ri;;i along both fides of the Portions of the car were carried as far as (ho Styx railway station, fully fifty yards away, and generally the remains of the car were scattered in all directions. The bodies of the two victims were left on the railway track until a. conveyance arrived to tnko them into town. Engine Driver's Account. E. Pringlo, who was driver on the train, stated to a reporter that lie was driving the train leaving Christchurch at noon for Kangiora. When at the crossing, about a hundred yards from the town side of tho Styx railway station, lie heard his fireman. Albert Skerton, cry out, "Look out," and at onco applied tho brakes. As ho did so he saw a. motorcar dash on to tho front of the cowcatchor, and it was at once smashed to pieces. The car was going south. Tho train, consisting of throe carriages and a van, was pulled up in its own length. Ho alighted from the engine, and went back. He found the body of one man lying alongside the line. Ho had been carried about forty yards beyond tho crossing. The other man was lying on the other side of the line, twenty yards .nearer the crossing. He died about five' ■■'minutes afterwards. Of the motor-car there remained nothing except fragments. In fact, there was not' enough of it left for those on the train to tell what make it was, or even what colour it had been.