RAILWAY FATALITY.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 August 1921, Page 4

RAILWAY FATALITY.

TRAIN RUNS OVER MAN. SHOCKING INJURIES. A shocking railway accident with fatal results occurred at Lepperton Junction on Saturday evening when the north bound train was leaving the station for New Plymouth shortly after 7 o’clock. A laborer, Joseph Fletcher, of Christchurch, in attempting to leave the moving New Plymouth train to join the Waitara train, apparently fell between the carriages, the wheels passing over his legs and almost completely severing them. No one actually saw the accident, and the first indication of it having occurred was a cry for help heard in the signal box. The train was stopped by Guard Fogden applying the brakes, but the man had already been injured. Fortunately a medical man was on the Waitara train and Fletcher was immediately attended to, an examination revealing that he had sustained compound fractures of ’both legs below the knees, the tissues being badly lacerated. The thigh was also broken, and Fletcher must have suffered intense agony, for he retained consciousness. Dr. Walker arrived* on the mail train shortly afterwards and lent his assistance.

The mail train was held up for about half-an-hour while Fletcher received attention before being brought to the New Plymouth hospital. Had Fletcher been in a fit condition yesterday morning it was intended to operate upon him for the purpose of amputating both legs, but towards morning he began to sink and died at about six o’clock.

An inquest will be held to-day.