CROSSING FATALITY

Hokitika Guardian, 8 April 1930, Page 5

CROSSING FATALITY

FURTHER PARTICULARS

(By Telegraph--Per Press Association.)

AVHANGAREI, April 7

Aliss Danvin and Mr Rot li well were dead when picked up. Sidney Johnson and Gavin Davidson died on the way to the Whangarei . District Hospital, and Miss Wilson died before she could be admitted to the hospital. Frew was alive when admitted to the hospital, but so injured that be was not expected to live through the night. His condition was hopeless from the start, and he died at 9.30 a.m. yesterday. Sparks was the most seriously injured of the 4 others. He was operated on. Miss Trotter was operated on and is doing ouite well. Trevor Doel, who is a deaf mute, was also operated on this morning, and in his case the outlook is also good. Dr Hall, the Medical Superintendent of the Whangarei District Hospital. remarked that a feature of the accident was that of the killed and injured taken to the institution there were no broken limbs, and the wounds consisted of either extensive cuts and abrasions or severe head injuries.

Constable M. Farrell, of Rawakawa was a passenger on the train and he immediately ran to Air AteLeod’s house near by and summoned. Dr Goodwin from Hikurangi, Dr, Goodwin arrived very quickly and did invaluable work in getting tbe wounded away. Tbe train was a special race train carrying patrons of the Whangarei races from Alair station alongside of the racecourse to Opua and was well .patronised. Tbe train was due to leave Alair Station at 5.42 p.m. but on account of a delay at the races it did not got away till 5.55 p.m. It stopped at Kamo and Kauri station and arrived at ■ the crossing about 6.35 p.m. The train consisted of seven passenger cars, three waggons and a van, and was drawn by a heavy engine of the BPi class. The driver of the train was A. Manning, of Opua and the guard C. Storey, of Hikurangi. Apart from the sudden application of the brakes the, passengers in tbe train knew nothing of tbe accident. Tbe first man to arrive at tbe scene was the driver, who, as soon as be had stopped bis train, ran ouiekly back to investigate the collision. The train was pulled up in less than its own length.