A FATAL COLLISION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 188, 13 September 1909, Page 2

A FATAL COLLISION.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. Shortly before five o'clock this evening an elderly man was killed on the Sockburn railway crossing by the engine of the) first express from the south. It .appears that on approaching Sockburn the engine-driver sounded his whisfjlc as usual to warn anyone in the vicinity of the crossing. The road at this point crosses the lino at an acu*.e angle, making it difficult for an approaching train to be 6 een from the railway. When the trai n was within a few yards of the crossing a gig driven by an elderly man suddenly appeared, and nothing could bo done to avert an accident. The locomotive crashed into the gig, smashing it into matchwood. The horse was just clear of the )ra«, but was thrown down and considerably knocked about. The occupant of the vehicle was struck with terrific force on the head and hurled across on to the next line of rails. When picked up hiwas bleeding fro m the nose and mouth, and had sustained such serious injuries to his heaii that death evidently had evidently been instantaneous. The train was promptly pulled up, {he cushions of the gig being carried along in front of the cow-catcher. The body of the unfortunate man was placed in the vaj, and brought on to Christchurch, where it was taken to the morgue. The deceased appeared to be a farmer of about CO years of age. Search of his clothin" resulted in the finding of a savings bank book, bearing the name of John McTavish.