ALARMING ACCIDENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10224, 27 April 1911, Page 5

ALARMING ACCIDENT.

AT KURIPUNI RAILWAY ■ ' ■ _ " STATION. NARROW ESCAPE OF TRAGEDY. An accident of a most sensational i character, which narrowly escaped ] ending in a double tragedy, occurred I at tlio Kuripuni railway station, near j Masterton, shortly before, twelve ; o'clock yesterday morning. An elder- ] ly man named Thomas, Thompson, who ' resides at Kiiripuni, was returning by I train from Carterton. On the train j stopping at Kuripuni, Thompson sig-'l nified his intention of continuing his journey to Masterton. Guard Baird was on, the platform of the carriage, and told Thompson that if 'he continued his journey he would have to pay an additional fare. Just as the train was moving off, Thompson jumped for the platform, but alighted instead between the carriage and the guard's vari. Guard Baird immediately sprang after him and dragged him from certain death, at considerable risk to his own life. The driver of the engine saw that something had happened, and immediately stopped tho train; but not before one of the wheels of the van . had passed over Thompson's foot, crushing it nlmost to a pulp. "Had the train lot • been stopped at once, the two meti would probably have been crushed to death. Thompson was conveyed to tho hospital in the ambulance, and his injuries Were dressed. He is progressing as favourably as can bo expected.