FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9045, 3 February 1908, Page 5

FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

TRAIN RUNS INTO A COACH. A WOMAN KILLED. OTHER PASSENGERS INJURED. by TF.i7EonArn---rr.Hßs association. NELSON, February 1. A sarious railway accident occurred at the crossing near Appleby Station at 12.20 o'clock to-day. The t-ain to Nelson was approaching the crossing when the Nelson— Motueka coach, driven by Charles Brichland?, attempted to cross in front. The horses had cleared the rails when the engine crashed into the forepart of the coach, which was smashed to pieces. There were three passengers by the coach, and one of them. Mrs Tilbury, wife of Mr A. J. Tilbury, of Hutt, was killed instantly, her body being terribly mangled. She evidently was thrown through the side of the coach, and the wheels of the engine passed over her body. Both legs were cut off. Her sister, Miss Susan Walters, was thrown clear of the train, and is suffering from shock and bruises. It is not anticipated that her injuries will prove serious. Miss Fittall, daughter of Mr Alfred 'Fittall, of Richmond, was seated on the box seat, and she also fell clear of the train, but suffered a broken thigh. The driver of the coach (Brichlands) was picked up unconscious from the ruins of the vehicle. He was seriously injured internally, and is in A critical condition. The dead and injured were placed on the train and brought on to Nelson, where the latter were taken to the hospital. The view .both ways at the crossing is not obstructed by trees, and it is difficult to understand why the coach-driver, a careful man, who is s accustomed to the road, failed to see the train approaching. The ",oach i 3 in the custom of crossing -the line some time before the train reaches that place, but owing to the anniversary'holiday the train arrangements ' to-day were altered, and probably Brichlands was not aware of the change. He is not yet able to give any account of the matter. Mr and Mr 3 Tilbury were on a holiday visit to Nelson, and Mr Tilbury was following the coach on a bicycle. An inquest on Mrs Tilbury's body will be opened to-morrow, but will be adjourned to allow of the evi dence of the coach-driver and other passengers being taken when they are fit to appear. NELSON, February 2. Those injured in yesterday's coach accident are making favourable * progress, though the condition of the driver (Brichlands) is still very serious. The inquest opened this morning on the body of Mrs Tilbury, and after formal evidence had been taken was adjourned till February 13th. (The late Mrs Tilbury has a number of relatives residing in the Wairarapa and Forty Mile Bush districts).