CROSSING SMASH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 February 1942, Page 2

CROSSING SMASH

TRUCK HIT BY TRAIN ONE MAN KILLED. TWO OTHERS INJURED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, February 13. One man was killed and two others injured when their truck was hit by train at the Porters Avenue level crossing, Mount Eden, this afternoon. They were: — KILLED. William Baird, ganger and truck driver, aged about 54, widower, Epsom. INJURED. Donald McConochie, arc welder, aged 44, widower, Mount Eden, who received injuries to his back and concussion. Archibald Earsmon, assistant permanent way superintendent, single, aged 54, Newmarket, who received a broken left arm, shock and abrasions to the head. All three men were employees of the Auckland Transport Board travelling toward Eden Terrace in the cab of one of the board’s welding trucks, Baird being the driver. The train was a mixed one from Henderson to Auckland, and was travelling slowly up the steep grade just north of the Mount Eden station where it was due to stop. The driver blew his whistle before reaching the crossing, which was guarded by automatic warning bells. Struck behind the cab on the left hand side, the truck was carried to the opposite side of the crossing and hurled on to the shunting siding. The condition of McConochie was reported later as fairly serious and that of Earsmon as not serious.