Car hits freight train

["John Regan" <reganjd@clear.net.nz>]

Zealand news from The Southland Times - October 23, 1998 
Reproduced with out permission.

Car hits freight train 

By Heather Peacocke



A GORE man walked away dazed after his car slammed into a freight train
north of Mataura last night. 

The 19-year-old farm worker sustained minor head and hand injuries and was
taken to Gore hospital. 

Constable Glenn Kruger, of Gore, said the man was driving along Given Road
towards state highway one at 6.15pm when his Mazda 626 met with a freight
train heading to Christchurch. 

The train, with 17 carriages, was cruising at about 80kmh when the
collision happened on the uncontrolled crossing near Charlton. The train
stopped several hundred metres down the track. 

"If he was another metre forward, he would have been collected in the
passenger's door," Mr Kruger said. 

An ambulance spokesman said the injured driver walked to the nearby farm
where he worked to summon help. 

Train driver of 30 years Ray Scott, of Invercargill, was not shaken by the
accident. 

"It's an occupational hazard," Mr Scott said. 

It had been a bad week after his wife had an accident in the family car on
Monday, he said. 

Another driver took charge of the train so it could continue on to
Christchurch. 

Mr Kruger said the collision was a timely reminder for drivers to stop and
check every uncontrolled crossing. He was hoping to talk to the driver of
the car today. 

Tranz Rail Invercargill terminal manager Bob Woodcock said it was procedure
to investigate any accident. 
--------

Gore is located approximately 50 kilometres north of Invercargill in the
deep south of New Zealand.