RAILWAY CROSSING FATALITY.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 June 1916, Page 5

RAILWAY CROSSING FATALITY.

TAONUI MOTOR SMASH. Further particulars are given by the Manawatu Standard concerning the collision between a motor car and the New Plymouth express train at Taonui on Friday. Mr. Goudy (a. farmer, of Kuamii), whose skull was badly fractured, died in the Palmerston North hospital soon after arrival there, and his Avife, who was injured internally, died early on Saturday morning. Mr. and Mrs. Goudy had been visiting Palmerston and on Friday hired' a: car to go to the Feilding stock sale. They transacted their business there, and alter lunch were due to leave Feildlng for Palmerston at 2.30, but, unfortunately, their departure was delayed 20 minutes. They left Feihling about ten minutes to 3 o'clock. The driver (Mr. T. S. Madge), took the main road to Palmerston, 'which nrhs parallel with the railway line, until the Ttaonuj crossing is reached. Mr. Madge statc3 that at the time he left Feilding there was no sign of the express. However, on reaching' the crbasing hj« looked quickly up and down the railway line, but When the leading wheels of lias sar touched the first rail of the track, Mr. Evans, a stock buyers, who was in the front seat, exclaimed: "Hullo, look out," and instantaneously the express smashed into l!he car. The driver says ho remembered no more until some seconds later, when he saw Mr. Kvans lying some distance away on tho other side of the cattle stops, while Mrs. Goudy was also some distance away near the fence. Her husband, however, was not thrown far. The locomotive ■stenek •4he bonnet of the car, swinging "the whole .machine completely round,

The railway officials state that the express left Feilding on time, and was not therefore endeavoring to make up time, en route. They would make no further statement.

The bodies of Mr. oiai Mrs. GoUdy were viewed by the coroner on Saturday morning, and it wan decided i;o nn Inqtfiry ar/flirt, Thttftday next. Both Mr. and Mrs. Goudy were of middle age, and ■enjoyed njuch })opul«rity where they resided. ,