EXPRESS HITS CAR

Hokitika Guardian, 6 April 1929, Page 6

EXPRESS HITS CAR

AIAN’S AVON DEB FUL ESCAPE. [By Telegraph, Per Press Association. TE AAVAAIUTU, April 5. The Daylight Limited Express shortly after 11 o’clock, collided with a fivo-scater Chevrolet car in the To Awainutu station yard. The express had crossed over the level crossing at the northern entrance of the station, and in the station yard it requires to cross another crossing leading to the goods shed. The car was following dosclv behind a lorry, and the cli Ivor apparently failed to notice the express. The lorry got clear of tlie crossing, hut the express hit the rear part of the car. reducing it to an unrecognisable heap of wreckage, which became entangled in the cowcatcher and was carried for some distance before the express travelled 9o yards from the crossing to the station platform. and finally stopped a 'further 32 yards jiloug tho platform. The only occupant of the car was "Wallace Webster, aged about 21. a rabbiter, of Parawera. He became entangled in the wreckage, and he was not cxtricatd until the express had stopped. Women fainted as he was dragged past the station platform. When reaching the platform, Webster’s right foot was torn off at the ankle through wedging agflinst some stones forming a run-up to the platform .

Aiedical aid was quickly summoned. Tho injured man remained conscious throughout. It is stated that, apa*t from the loss of his right foot, he sustained only minor Ibruises. His escape from death was a miraculous one. The car is twisted beyond recognition and the debris is scattered about the yard. Tho station signalling apparatus was wrecked, but the permanent way was not otherwise damaged. The injured man was removed to tho Waikato Hospital.