Railway Fatality.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 31, 28 May 1914, Page 5

Railway Fatality.

A MOTHER’S SAD TRIAL.

GRANNY’S FALL OFF TRAIN.

[Psu Press Association.] Auckland, May 27

A sad fatality occurred at Otahuhu railway station at about 6 p.m. to-day, Annie Aquilla Aukett, aged 56, wife of Alfred Aukett, a storekeeper, living in Great South Road, Otahuhu, losing her life through falling beneath a train, and her granddaughter, Dorothy Thelma Aukett, a child of three, being so seriously injured that her life is despaired of. The Main Trunk express from Wellington was running late, owing to disorganisation in the service caused by the accident at Whangamarino in the morning.

Mrs Aukett and her grandchild, accompanied by the latter’s mother, Mrs Aukett, junr., were passengers by the express from Franktou. The express stopped at Otahuhu for about two minutes. Just as it was about to start again, tho two women appeared to have realised that they were at their destination, and proceeded to alight. The younger woman stopped out on to the station platform safely, but I her mother-in-law was some seconds in following her, and by the time she was prepared to leave the train with the child in her arms it was in motion, and had, as a matter of fact, proceeded several yards. Mrs Aukett, seur., was twisted round, and fell with her granddaughter between the train and the platform.

An outcry was raised and the train was brought to a standstill, but not before five or six wheels had passed over the unfortunate woman and the child.

The express came on to Auckland with the injured. ' The woman expired on the way to the hospital. Both her legs had been run over, her arm was broken, and she had g,lso sustained injuries to her head and face. The child had both her feet cut off above the ankles, and was in a very precarious condition when she was admitted to the hospital. Very little hope of her recovery was entertained late last night.