TRAGIC SMASH OF RAIL-CAR

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 337, 19 January 1937, Page 6

TRAGIC SMASH OF RAIL-CAR

HOKITIKA ACCIDENT ONE MAN KILLED. Twelve Injured When Car Left Rails. Press Association—Copyright. Greymouth, Last Night. A railcar filled with passengers left the rails at Ardhura at 4.30 p.m. when proceeding from Hokitflca to Grymouth and was smashed to pieces. One passenger was fatally injured and 12 passengeiras were more or less seriously hurt. Eight escaped injury. The passenger killed was William J. Jeffries, Hokitika, proprietor of the auctioneering firm of W. Jeffries and Co. He was a member of the Westland County Council and a wellknown citizen. His wife was also on board and was injured. The injured, who were conveyed by lorry to the Westland hospital, about four miles distant, are: Mrs W. J. Jeffries; Hokitika, fractured wrist; John Arthur Guy, 38, Grey mouth, fractured left thigh; , William Don Mackay,' 73, Hokitika, head injuries, abrasions and shock; Mrs W. D. Mackay, 74, abrasions to head and limbs; John Thompson, Greymouth, lacerations, arm injury; James Phibbs, assistant railcar driver, Greymouth, bruising; William Alex. Hanna, Blaketown. Greymouth, bruising, strained back and arm injury. The acting guard, Mr G. Wright, Greymouth, suffered injuries to the head and hack and the driver, Mr P. J. Evans, Greymouth, was slightly injured about the lower part of the body. They both came to Greymouth by train with some of the railcar passengers who proceeded to Christchurch by a steam train which left | at 7 p.m. and had been put on to replace the railcar for the night run. Smashed Almost to Splimters. The railcar, R.M. 21, was built at the Hutt workshops and had been running for about three months. It was proceeding at from 25 to 30 miles an hour. Approaching the Flowery Creek level crossing, near Arahura, it slowed down and made the crossing but then veered off the rails for 50 yards and capsized twice. The car was facing the opposite direction when it-came to a ; standstill, smashed almost to splinters. Wood was thrown some yards away. The passengers were thrown about i ninepins, a number landing in the upturned ceiling and some in the body of the car. The glassware of the car caused many of the cuts and other injuries. It is believed that a stone on the crossing lifted a wheel over the rail, the front portion of the car career- ' ing along one and a half chains before the rear v> heels swung the ear over.