DISASTROUS COLLISION

Hokitika Guardian, 27 April 1926, Page 3

DISASTROUS COLLISION

HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE. Til ATX SMASHES VAX. [Australia ifc N.Z. Cable Association.' (Received this clay at 8 a.in.) MELBOURNE. April 27. Tho holiday was marred by a disastrous accident on Ferntroe Gully line, when to-night an electric railway train dashed into a. large motor van crowded with pieknickers. Details as yet are meagre but so far it is known nine people were killed and fifteen or sixteen injured, several seriously, and it is feared when the work of extricating the victims from the wreckage is complete the death roll will be added to. The collision occurred at a level crossing at Boronia. The van was smashed to splinters and the human freight scattered and mangled by the onrushing train. The smash happened about six o’clock. Nine bodies were sent to Melbourne but have not reached the city and their identity will not bo known till a very late hour. FURTHER PARTICULARS. MELBOURNE. April 27. The accident was the most disastrous accident of a series of similar level crossing smashes in the history of the Australian railways. Fern Tree Gully is a great rendezvous for pieknickers and to-day being a Labour Day holiday many motorvan and other parties visited the spot. T.ne scene of the disaster is two miles on the Melbourne side of Fern Tree (lull.v .Station, from which the train started and was given timo to get tip a good rate of speed. Tt struck the motorvan with tremendous force heeled it over and then rut through it and its living freight, dragging the debris a considerable distance before the train could bo brought to a standstill. Mangled bodies and tlm wounded wero pinned among the debris, moaning and screaming, mixed in an inextricable mass. The work ol extricating was difficult. Those who escaped death or injury were so shaken and unnerved by their terrible experience and heartrending surroundings, were unable to render much help. With the assistance of holiday making parties, and people living in the vicinity, rescue work proceeded slowly. Ihe wounded were removed from among the wreckage and given medical aid as soon as possible and sent on to Melbourne, where the dead were also torwarcled. It was a late hour before this work was completed and at the time of cabling the identification of tho victims is not available. The wrecked van carried 24 passengers including a number of women and children.

THE KILLED. (Received this day at 9.0 a.in.) MELBOURNE, April 27. The names of tho dead in tho rail way smash are:— Marjorie Walker, 19 years, single. diaries Barr. Ah’s Evans, a widow. Leslie Matthews. Eileen Matthews. Thelma Richards. (All of Clifton Hill.) Percy R. Ashton. Ah'S Ashton, a widow (both of Northcote). Also a hoy very badly mutilated and not identifiable, but believed to be a nephew of Airs Ashton. SERIOUSLY INJURED. Those seriously injured are:— May Evans. Robert Bridges. Airs Rugby Bridges. Arnold Bridges. Amuel Tantini. Colin Ashton. Doris Willis. Owen Evans. Altogether there were fifteen injured. The train left Melbourne at 5.58 and the accident occurred ten minutes later. It is regarded as remarkable that oven more were not killed outright. iho train was moving rapidly and ran nearly half its length before it could he pulled up. One passenger on tho van said she noticed tho approach of the train as tho truck ran on to the crossing and thinking it too close for safety jumped from the'back of the van. She injured her hand in doing so, hut escaped seri-

ous injury. The occupants of the van were nrranged a loan three temporary seats and were nearly all related. They were members of a picnic club Who subscribed funds. As they approached the crossing several occupants warned the driver that the crossing was a dangerous one. He slowed down and crossed it at a very slow speed. When the train struck the van, the latter was carried along ten yards before it was thrown clear. Robert Bridges, who was seated in front with the driver, said he did not know of the train’s approach till the accident happened. The driver of the truck. Samuel Tnntini, said it was just getting dark. Ho said the headlights were on. Thero were no lights in the van. He did not hear the train whistle because the party were singing.

MORE DETAILS. (Received tbi« <lnr at, 12.30 n.m.l MELBOURNE, April 27.

The Metropolitan Railway Superintendent who was at Ferntreo Cully dealing with the holiday traffic, hastily organised a staff of railway employees who assisted in the dead from beneath the train, collecting the injured and their removal to tho ambulances. The train which struck the van was detained to bring the bodies ol the victims to Melbourne, where special arrangements were made tor the reception and conveyance of the bodies to the morgue. The news of the disaster, spread rapidly and a large squad of police was necessary to keep back curious spectators.

When the train arrived the injured were brought to Melbourne by motor ambulances. The doctors decided th.it this was preferable to a train journej, wiliich would involve transferring them to the ambulances on their arrival at the city.

The scene at Flinders Street Station when the train arrived was harrowing. The sight of tlie mangled bodies proved too much for some of the railway officials and police. Some time elapsed before they were able to undertake their terrible duties.

In two cases the bodies were literally cut to pieces. ' The guard of the train states ho has witnesses to state that the train s whistle sounded continuously as it approached the crossing. Tho motor man is suffering from shock and is unable to make any statement.

Tho railway commissioners have issued a statement expressing deep regret at the disaster and their heartfelt sympathy with the relatives of the unfortunate victims. High tribute is paid to a party of boy scouts who assisted to remove the bodies from beneath the train and to render first aid to the] injured. John Walker, one of the less injured, stated that he was sitting next to tho driver. Neither of them heard the train approaching. Suddenly a shrill blast of the whistle rang out, and almost simultaneously, there was an awful crash. He was thrown into the air and was rendered unconscious. The train evidently hit the back of the van. Those sitting in the hack were, killed and those in ttho front were injured.