YOUNG MOTOR-CYCLIST KILLED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4460, 3 June 1930, Page 3

YOUNG MOTOR-CYCLIST KILLED.

IN COLLISION WITH EXPRESS. There was a shocking tragedy at the Kelvin Grove railway crossing, Palmerston North, yesterday morning, when a young motor-evclist, named Bernard Louis Henry, a single man, of Palmerston X., was struck by the north-bound daylight Limited express. He was killed instantly and his body was frightfully mutilated. The accident occurred at: 11.15 a.m.

Deceased was proceeding towards Palmerston North Li.on Kelvin Grove and apparently did not noliee the fast approaching express until he was about fifty feel, from the line. There was a slippery road surface, and the skid marks showed that his brakes had been applied, but they had failed to arrest his momentum, and he crashed into the engine of the train.

Whirled around among the wheels, deceased was fearfully injured, being practically decapitated while one leg was severed. Ilis body was eventually thrown clear jo the right of the permanent way about forty yards from the crossing. Deceased’s machine was carried on by the engine after smashing awav the edge of the cattle-stop and was wrecked beyond further use, being finally hurled to the side fully two hundred yards ptisl Ihe crossing. It was practically battered to pieces. The engine pulled up three or four hundred yards- from the scene of the collision. ' “Although there were several men working nearby, none actually witnessed Ihe collision, but they heard the impact. The approach In the crossing from the road led into a slight dip, wilii a rough surface, and then up a gentle slope on lo 111 e lines.

Brick buildings to Ihe left would obscure the view of a motor cyclist 'until he was close up to Hie line, while the train emerged from a slight cutting. The crossing is regarded as a dangerous one 1 and has a compulsory stop sign. The railway line at Hiis point is on a down grade, and the express would probably be travelling at a very fast- rate.