(The Associated Press circulated the following story on January 19.)
WELLINGTON, N.Z. — A New Zealand train driver went on indefinite stress leave after running over a garden gnome which he feared was a child.
The gnome was apparently placed on rail tracks in the North Island city of Tauranga, south of Auckland, as a practical joke, police said.
But when the driver’s train struck the small figure in the early hours of Tuesday morning, he believed he had killed a child and called police.
A small pair of boots were found on the track but when they turned out to be made of pottery, the truth began to dawn. Other shattered pieces of pottery were found nearby.
Rail company Tranz Rail had to send relief staff to take over from the shaken driver, who was on indefinite stress leave, spokeswoman Sue Foley said, adding the incident was “a stupid prank”.