PASSENGER TRAIN DERAILED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21113, 5 June 1943, Page 4

PASSENGER TRAIN DERAILED

TRAGIC CENTRAL OTAGG SMASH

18 PERSONS KILLED AND 40 INJURED CAUGHT IN TELESCOPED CARRIAGES , p A } DUNEDIN, Juno 5. Ranking; high among' the most tragic ot the comparatively lew serious accidents that have happened in New Zealand railway his!orv, a disasiruns derailment on Ihe Central Olago line vest erd.nv ai’lernoon in volved Ihe death ol J 8 passengers ana injury to at least 40 more. As the train, which left (.Yonnvell at 9.10 o’clock ycslerday morning for Dunedin with a big complement ol: passengers, reached a curve in a cutting, 1 hreo miles on the Dunedin side ol Hyde at approximately 1.45 p.m., the engine 1 oft the track and crashed on its side. The first of the ears ran past- the overturned engine, telescoped and was smashed, .while the following; four ears were badly telescoped. At lea si IS of the passengers are reported killed, while aben.v 40 are more or less badly injured. Many 01. the other passengers were tangled in the wreckage and had to be extricated. All possible aid was immediately arranged by the Dunedin, railway officials and. was rushed to the scene from Ran Turly, Middle-march and Waipiata Hospitals, while three fully-staffed ambulances, two doctors and a number of nurses were despatched from. Dunedin. Two railway buses and two corporation, buses were also sent for the purpose of bringing to Dunedin any passengers able to travel in that- way. There was exceptionally heavy loading on the train, the passengers including many ■coming to town for the winter show and races at- Win gatui. No horses were on the train. Amongst the injured was the driver who sustained a badly fractured arm and severe scalds. The fireman was also badly .scalded. Immediately after the accident contact was established by telephone with the railway authorities at Dunedin, and a break-down train was at once assembled and despatched to the scene of the accident.