SHOCKING RAILWAY ACCIDENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 221, 23 October 1909, Page 2

SHOCKING RAILWAY ACCIDENT

WOMAN Cb'i' TO PU'XIES. by Telegraph.—Press Association. Ohristcburch, uisi .-..gut. A shocking railway ucciul-Hi, uicumu oil tlit mam soutli line this aticnioon. Among the passengers \ylio left for lite sontli ny the ninl-Uay express was Mrs: Sonierliold, wile ol tnc siatioiiiniiaier at Hukaia. When tile train «'«> between Islington and Teuipleton, ills, isomer- J field full off a carriage platform and sustained dreadful injuring, from wjiicli I she must speedily have succumbed, The I wheels passed over her legs, completely severing one foot, and leaving the otnei leg attached to the trunk merely by a shred.

Details of the accident are extremely j meagre. The first news received in Christrhurch about, it, was telegraphed from Rakuia. The body was found lying on the rails by a railway can •ployec named William Workman. He informed Constable McDonald, of Islington, of the occurrence, and the constable brought the body to town. Fuller.details of the sad affair show that deceased was formerly Miss Lyons, of Auckland, aged about 35 years. It appeared that the unfortunato woman was crossing from a carriage to the dining-car, and in attempting to grasp the communicating handrail, slipped and fell fret foremost between the carriages on to the line. Death was probably instantaneous, five cars passing over her body. The accident was witnessed by George Baker, head waiter on the dining-car. He stated that it took place when the train was proceeding at a medium pnee about three quarters of a mile nortli of Tcinplcton.