ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 88, 7 January 1918, Page 6

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. MOTOR-GAR STRUCK BY A TRAIN. By Telegrapli-Press Association. ■ Hawera, January 6. A serious accident occurred on' the fiouth Road railway crossing on Saturday afternoon, when a motor-car driven by Captain Macdiarmid, N.Z.M.C, Featherston, formerly of New Plymouth, collided with the outgoing train to Wanganui. Mrs. Macdiarmid, mother of Captain Macdiarmid, was also in the car. The cow-catcher struck the car in the centre and carried it along for a distance of thirty or forty yards, throwing the occupants on the banks. Mrs. Macdiarmid was rendered unconscious and taken to a private hospital in, a motor ambulance. No bones were broken, but she was badly bruised. Sue is progressing favourably. Captain Macdiarmid escaped unhurt. When tie driver of the train observed the car "tie promptly applied the brakes and did all that was possible to - avoid a collision. It seems that y Captain Macdiarmid did not see the train approaching until within a few yards of the crossing, which is a bad one. The car was smashed almost beyond recognition. The occupants had a miraculous escape. MAN BLOWS HIMSELF UP. Hawera, January 5. John Copelaud, labourer, aged 63 years, residing at Normanby, committed suicide last evening by placing, it is supposed, gunpowder under his body, and then igniting it. Copeland was still alive when medical assistance arrived, but expired shortly afterwards. He was a cripple. FATAL SEQUEL TO MOTOR ACCIDENT. New Plymouth, January 5. • Frank Anstis, labourer, aged 53, died in the hospital yesterday from injuries received in a motor accident while he was returning from Stratford races on Wednesday.