CROSSING FATALITY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2392, 14 February 1922, Page 3

CROSSING FATALITY.

YOUNG MAN KILLED. BY AUCKLAND EXPRESS. A sad and rather inexplicable fatality occurred at a level crossing near Paraparaumu at 2.5 yesterday afternoon, when a motor cyclist named Harry Field, a youth of 18 years, was so seriously injured in-a collision with the engine of the afternoon express to Auckland that he died within a few minutes of the occurrence. It appears from the meagre details supplied by the guard of the express on its arrival at Palmerston North that the young man came into view so suddenly that there was no possibility of avoiding the impact, and oblivious of the approach of the train he struck the engine almost head on, and was hurled with his machine some distance away. The deceased was very badly injured, especially about the head, and was unconscious. He was at once attended to on the train by two doctors who were travelling by it. Despite all that could be done, however, he expired before the train reached Otaki, some twelve miles away, where the body was taken off. The unfortunate lad, whose home was at Paraparaumu, was a son of the late Mr John Field, of Wellington, and a nephew of Mr W. H. Field, M.P. The driver of the express was Albert Ernest Meac'hin, and the fireman was Patrick Flallelly, both of-whom reside in Wellington. As a result of the accident the express was 40 minutes late on its arrival at Palmerston North.