SHOCKING RAILWAY FATALITY.

Otaki Mail, 20 December 1922, Page 3

SHOCKING RAILWAY FATALITY.

LADY KILLED AT LEVIN LEVEL CROSSING. TWO DAUGHTERS SERIOUSLY ' INJURED. AUCKLAND EXPRESS CRASHES • INTO LOADED TRAP. A tearful collision, resulting- unfortunately in loss of lile, occurred .it the railway crossing opposite Beach Road, Levin, just before three o'clock yesterday afternoon, the victim being Mrs Narby, wife of Mr A. Narby, u well known settler of Turur.ua Road. ii appears that Mrs Narby, accompanied by lior two daughters, drove to Levin down 'lararua Boul. When the railway is reached the road turns and tuns parallel with the railway lor several chains .before the crossing is reached nearly opposite Beach Boad. Apparently when the party turned to r.otne towards the crossing they nolueil a train was standing in the yard and kept their eyes on it. All unconscious that the Auckland express was duq -to arrive—at that moment it was but a chain or two away— I they turned to cross the railway and | drove over the_ first set of rails and j were fairly on the main line when the heavy express engine with a long stting of carriages dashed into the helpless party. The impact was fearful. The trap Was smashed to pieces, the occupants thrown out, and the horse dashed into the side-railing at the Cattlestop and then thrown aside dead. The train was pulled up as quickly m possible, and there was a rush to the scene. Mrs Narby was found to he beyond human aid, arid lier two riY.ughters were badly injured, but the fn'l extent of the injuries could not lie ascertained at the time. Medical aid wis soon at hand, and everything possible was done for Ihe injured.

One of the young ladies was found to have sustained a broken nrrn and injuries io the head, and the other ,-ilso received ■'njuries to the head. Both are suffering very much from shook. "They were taken on by the Auckland express to the Pahnerston Hosptial. Mr A. Knight, ganger on the Levin railway staff, who was-working on the line about two chains from the crossing, witnessed the fatality. He states thaf the party drove along to the crossing without the least idea thnf the Auckland express was approaching, and seemed to be watching flic train in the yard. He was astonished, however, to see them attempt the crossing right in front or the express. H.j shouted his loudest to direct their attention- to the danger, but they apparently did not hear, and in a moment the train dashed into them, throwing the trap into the air and smashing- ',t to pieces. It was a marvel, he says, that the whole party was not killed.