CROSSING SMASH

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 428, 8 May 1937, Page 7

CROSSING SMASH

Motor Car Hit One Occupant Killed Press Association-Copyright Masterton, May 7. A five.seater motor car was : mashed to matchwood and two occupants injured, one tatally and the o her seriously, in a sensational level crossing smash with the south-bound railcar at Anderson's Line, half a mile nor h of Cartel - ,ton railway station this afternoon. The rail-car w« s not extensively damaged and .none of the passengers was injured. The victims were: Killed, Patrick Ryan, aged about 1C years son of Mr .nd Mrs P. F. Ryan, Kuripuni, Mastenton; injured, Frank Archer, aged 19 years, son of Mr and Mrs J. Archer, Anderson’s Line, Carter on Both youths were employed by Nimmo and Eons, Masterton. Their connection wi.li the firm Was brief, the late Mr Ryan having been employed for only two days, while Archer was also a new employee. Arawa Car Involved. The toil-car involved was the Arawa, a combina. ion luggage and passenger vehicle running between Cross Creek and Masterton, driven by Mr T. Long, Cross Creek, and with Mr John Hopkinson, Cross Creek, as conductor. The car left Masterton for Cross Creek at 4.14 p.m. The accident occurred at 4.29 p.m. ai n level crossing in Anderson’s Lins, which runs off the main Cartert.on-Master-ton road alongside of Booth’s Mill. The motor car, which was driven by Mr Archer, was travelling east toward the main road, the occupants, it is t I ted, having visited Mr Archer's home. Apparently the driver of ‘he motor car faded to see the approaching rail-car or to hear the sound of the horn, which nearby residents state sounded un il .the rail-car was right on the crossing. The motor car was driven to the crossing practically right in front of he rail-car, which struck it in the middle on the lefthand side.

The force of the impact carried the motor car across the cattle.st.op and for a distance of 45 yards along the permanent tti.y, the motor car, reduced to a mangled mass of wreckage, being strewn over a fairly wide area. The two occupants of the mo or-car were catapulted out of the wrecked vehicle and were found lying near the rails Lt the rear of .the rail-car, the front seat of the tor being alongside. The crash was heard for some distance and assistance bo h from .the rail-ear land nearby residents was quickly available. The injured youths were rushed to the Greytown Hospital in an ambulance’ The late Mr Ryan suffered extensive head injuries and died about 8.30 p.m. without re. gaining consciousness. MT Archer sustained a fractured, collarbone and other injuries.