RAILWAY SMASH

Hokitika Guardian, 14 September 1926, Page 2

RAILWAY SMASH

RUNAWAY GOODS WAGGONS. SIX DEATHS. [Australia & N.Z. Cable Associatiou.J (Received this day at- 5.50 a.m.) SYDNEY ,September 14. A shocking railway accident occurred near Blandford shortly before midnight. Four wool waggons forming part oi a goods train became detached and bolted down hill and crashed into the northwest mail train. Four carriages of the mail train were telescoped. It is reported that at least six persons were killed and between thirty am} forty injured. The wool waggons immediately hurst into Haines hut the lire .did not spread to the mail train. Owing to the darkness and state of the wrecked carriages, rescue work proved extremely difficult. -Many residents from the settlements nearby hurried to the scene ;md willingly ■ lent aid. The mail train was proceeding at a rate of thirty miles ail hour when a head-on collision with the heavy trucks occurred. One of the telescoped carriages was completely splintered and a number of passengers in this carriage were killed and several others seriously injured. Several car loads of injured passengers were taken to Murrumli Hospital.

TWENTY-FOUR REPORTED KILLED. (Received this day at 10.15 a.m.) SYDNEY, Sept. 14. It is reported from Murrurundi that twenty-four persons were killed in the Blandford smash. Four doctors travelling on the mail train rendered first .aid to the injured. As soon as the news reached Scone, nurses rushed to the scene, but the disaster occurred at an isolated spot and some time elapsed before the victims arrived at. the hospital. At 4.30 a.m. twenty-five had been admitted to Murrurundi hospital. Rescue work at the scene is fur from complete. Seven Injured were admitted to Scone hospital, five in a critical condition. A breakdown gang is working stren-■ uouslv in an endeavour to clear the line. Practically every carriage of the mail train was telescoped. This is the third fatal railway accident in this vicinity in the last few months. It is stated the draw bar between the fourth and fifth, wagons of the goods train broke, and the four wagons moved oft' on a down gradient, soon attaining a break-neck speed. The crash was heard for miles around.