FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1190, 19 December 1884, Page 3

FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

TWO PERSONS KILLED. ; (Daily Times, December 17). Thia morning at the High street crossing Rangiora, the up train from Christchurch ran into a van containing a pleasure party of young people, members of the Presby terian choir, on their way to the -Waikuku sea beach. The occupants, numbering 12, were thrown out. Two—Mr David, Keir and Miss Margaret Morrell fell under the wheels of the train, and received terrible injuries from the effects of which they died shortly afterwards. The names of the others of the party, and the injuries they received, are as follows Thomas Kerr, left arm badly broken and head cut. John Hughey, the driver, serious wounds on head D. M’Kay and Mrs M’K y, each two ribs hr ken. Misses M.’Stapleforth, Jane M’Cracken, A. Morrell. and’Mr C. J. Jennings, more or less bruised an 1 shaken ..„ ...' .j; •‘ ■ ' i The deceased."tikvid Keir was a son of Mr J. Keir, of the Well known firm of Boyd and Keir, builders, and was 21 years of .age. The young lady deceased was 15 yeirs of age. . ... , No injury was done to the train. The driver of the van is said to he principally to blame for the accident, which has casta great gloom over Rmaiora. A number of persons who were waiting on the railway platform to take the train for Christchurch to enjoy the holiday (Anniversary Day) were so affected that they returned to their 'homes. 'V . . ,( Later. From further accounts to had of Rangiora accident, it appears that Hughey, the driver of the van, observed the morning train from Christchurch close upon him. Thinking there was uottime to pull up his horses, he gave them a cut with the whip to vet them over the line. The engine was too quick for the horses, and crashed into the side of the van close to the front wheels, dashing it away, from the horses (which es? caped with hut little injury) on to the cat-tle-trap at the crossing. The occupants of the vehicle were thrown in all directions. The most badlv hurt of the sufferers were quickly conveyed to adjacent houses, where they received prompt attention from Drs Downes, Williams, and Gordon. The van was completely wrecked, and.the wonder is that more of the party were not killed or more seriously injured. The front carriage of the train was considerably damaged, the iron stanchions am the platform being bro ken away and several windows smashed ; but none of the occupants were injured. No blame is attached to the enginedriver, as he whistled as usual on approaching the crossing, and on seeing the danger applied the breaks so promptly as to poll up the train within a few yards of the accident, was not looking in the direction of the cross,ing, and the crossing-keeper faded to at* tract his attention until it was too late. The van being covered prevented the occupants from seeinc the train. David Keir, one of the deceased, was highly respected by all who knew him Miss Mor ell was also much beloved, by .her friends. The deepest sympathy is felt at Ransiora for the parents so' suddenly bereaved of their children. Latest, Hughey and M’Kay are in a very precarious condition, the latter having injuries to his hack of a serious nature in addition to broken ribs. The other ” sufferers are doing as well as can be expected.