LEVEL CROSSING ACCIDENT.

Shannon News, 14 August 1928, Page 2

LEVEL CROSSING ACCIDENT.

AUCKLAND EXPRESS CRASHES INTO CAR AT SHANNON.

TWO PERSONS SERIOUSLY

INJURED

A serious accident happened aI; about 4.30 p.m. on Saturday at the railway crossing over the Otauru Stream, Shannon, when a Ford 5-se«t-er car driven by Mr J. Spooneiy of Palmerston North, collided with the up Wellington-Auckland express, with the result that the car was completely wrecked and the driver and passenger, Mrs Baker, who is employed at the Albion Hotel, Shannon, were both very seriously injured, their condition being critical. The train was pulled up immediately and Dr. Mackereth, of Shannon, was summoned. On examination Mr-Spoon-, •cr was found to be suffering from severe injuries to hh legs, while Mrs Baker, who was conscious, was badly <ut about, the head and anus. After the injured were attended to they were conveyed to the Palmerston North Hospital in the express, which proceeded on its' way again at 5 o'clock. The car had left the Albion Hotel for Palmerston Noith and instead of travelling up the main road on the east side of the railway line crossed over the 'line to Nathan Terrace, proceeding along this road to the next railway crossing which is over the Otauru Stream where, realising his mistake, the driver evidently decided to regain the main road. To cross on to the railway line, the car would turn straight off the bridge over the Otauru Stream, which is- about 20 feet from the line and ruifs parallel with the railway bridge. It is hard-to understand how the driver failed to hear or see the express which must have been level with him, travelling in the same direction, as along -this part of the line there is an unobstructed view of a distance of about half a mile to the .south from where the train was coming. From appearances, the engine struck the car just behind the driver's seat, the force of the impact throwing the car over the cattle stops and down 'he embankment.- The occupants were thrown out and the car badly smashed up, the only parts of the car not being damaged being the front wheels and head lamps. Advice received from the hospital is that both the victims are in a very critical state, Mr' Spooner suffering from severe injuries to his legs and body, and Mrs Baker frpm injuries to her head.