SHOCKING ACCIDENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 91, 7 October 1911, Page 8

SHOCKING ACCIDENT.

AT A lIAWERA RAILWAY CROSSING. A serious accident occurred in Hawera at the Main South road railway crossing early on Thursday evening, when a special goods train which left there at > 6.5 o'clock .dashed into a trap driven by Mr. S. Turkington, blacksmith, Whakanmra, formerly of Mangatoki (says the Star). The accident was witnessed by Mr. C. Robinson, who states that as jhe was walking in tho direction of the crossing the trap passed him, the horse I going at a fast trob. Shortly aftert wards an engine whistled, and the horse increased its speed. The trap had just got almost safely over the line when the engine, coming out of- the cutting, struck the wheels. • The trap was . overturned,' and the man was carried about ten to twenty yards before the train was pulled up. Mr. L. Kavanagh also saw the accident from a bridge in his own property. The unfortunate man, who was badly crushed, was immediately taken back to Hawera by the same train, and was living when he arrived at the station at 0.20 a.m. He was bleeding freely from a cut behind the left ear, and was removed to tho hospital in an unconscious condition.

The case was regarded as hopeless, and the unfortunate man,. who passed a bad night, died in the institution at 10 o'clock yesterday morning. Deceased leaves a wife and family of six. They had only removed to Whakamara the previous day, where, it is understood, he was to engag* in farming pursuits.

It may be added that, though the trap was smashed to pieces, the horse escaped.