SMASH AT CROSSING

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 71, 24 March 1934, Page 14

SMASH AT CROSSING

TRAIN AND MOTOE-CAE

TWO DEAD; TWO INJURED

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, March 23. Two people are dead and two others injured as a result of a sedan motprcar in which they were riding striking the Opua-Auckland express at a level crossing just north of Waitakere Bailwny Station, about 4 o 'clock this afternoon. The victims were brought to Mount Eden on the train. Two were! dead on arrival, and the other two were admitted to hospital. The victims are:— DEAD. James Higg, aged 50, single. He was a driver employed by the Auckland j City Council, and lived at Kemuera. Charles Manderson, aged 43, single. He was a retired railway workshop employee, and lived at Newmarket. INJURED. Frank Impey, aged 45, married, Mount Eoskill. Mr. Impey, who was driving, received concussion and a fracture of an arm. His condition is fairly serious. Gertrude MeGee, aged 47, widow, of Home Bay. She received a fracture of an elbow and a hand. Her condition is not serious. The motor-car aproached from the western side of the crossing, and the driver, Mr. Inipey, apparently saw the train approaching when it was too late for him'to stop. As he turned sharply to the right in an endeavour to avoid a collision, the motor-car struck the engine about six feet behind the front of the cowcatcher, and bqunced back on to the front of the guard's van immediately behind the engine. The car was. struck by each of the six carriages in turn, and when the train pulled up was in a wrecked condition partly under the last carriage. The train, which was slowing down to stop at Waitakere station, was stopped in its own length. Passengers hastened to the assistance of the occupants of the car, who were extricated with difficulty. The train arrived at Auckland threequarters of an hour late. Splinters of glass were still scattered about the front of the engine, and it was found that an airpipe of the braking system had been broken and the cylinder damaged by the impact. The beading on the right side of the carriages for practically the whole length of the train was also damaged.