FATAL COLLISION NEAR LONGBURN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3737, 5 January 1928, Page 3

FATAL COLLISION NEAR LONGBURN.

TRAIN CRASHES INTO MOTOR

DELIVERY VAN,

The Longburn-Rongotea road railway crossing was the scene of a fatal accident about midday on Tuesday when the Wanganui relief express crashed • into a motor van driven by Mr. Andrew Guthrie, butcher, of Longburn. Mr. Guthrie was dead when picked up after the collisio'h, death’ having been instantaneous. ’ ' This particular crossing has witnessed quite a number of accidents, a row of macrocarpa trees obscuring the view when approached from the Rongotea side. Deceased, however, is reported to have been coming from Longburn and in the same direction as the train was travelling. There is nothing obscuring the view on' that side of the line and had deceased,loo'ked behind him before turnjng across the rails, lie must havj/seen the oncoming train. The engine caught the van broad side smashing it to pieces, and carrying portions on the cowcatcher. The express was stopped within" ten chains of the scene of the collision. , ' ' Deceased was a widower with three children and was well-known in the district.