24th December 1927
A motorist is killed on a Jersey level crossing
The bell was sounding, warning oncoming traffic that the barrier was being lowered at the Grève d’Azette station level crossing, but Francis Lecocq thought he could probably squeeze through in time. He was wrong. The barrier came down on the roof of his car and held it firmly in place.
The train was already too close for the driver to stop, and although Lecocq and both of his daughters managed to get out of the car before the inevitable collision, The Times of 28 December 1927 reports that, on that fateful Christmas Eve, “the train crashed into the car, cutting it completely in half, and carrying it some 50 yards up the line”.
It also killed Lecocq.
FREE Jersey history newsletter
Don't miss our weekly update on Jersey's fascinating history. We promise never to sell your data to anyone else, and there's a super-easy unsubscribe link on the bottom of each email so you can leave whenever you want.
Other events that occured in December
St Helier brought to a standstill by 600 mourners
- Artist Ralph Elliott died in 2009, aged 47. His funeral in December attended hundreds of mourners who brought St Helier to a standstill.
- Read more…
An unknown man is arrested in Jersey
- An unknown man was arrested in Jersey on suspicion of murdering his wife who was discovered stabbed in her bed.
- Read more…
Parishioners break into belfry demanding to hear bells
- When a vicar refused to have the bells rung at Christmas, his Jersey congregation broke into the belfry to make their demands.
- Read more…
Passenger plane springs a leak on flight to Jersey
- A passenger flight between Manchester and Jersey had to decrease altitude when a leak was detected in the fuselage.
- Read more…
