ACCIDENTS & DEATHS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 196, 2 June 1930, Page 6

ACCIDENTS & DEATHS.

WHANGAREI CROSSING SMASH. OPENING OF THE INQUEST. (Per Press Association.) > WH ANGAREI, This Day. An inquest following the level crossing fatality at McLeod’s Flat on the evening of April 5, when a train and ’bus collided, resulting in the deaths of six ’bus passengers, was opened today. Noel Herbert Wilkinson (driver of the ’bus), was charged with having negligently driven the ’bus, thereby causing six deaths. The evidence in the inquest and in the case against Wilkinson was taken simultaneously. Robert Menzies (assistant engineer of Public Works), stated that standing on the crossing facing Whangarei, a train was visible 45 chains away. A ’bus driver coming from Hikurangi at a point chains from the crossing had a vision of 41 chains. He had visited the locality at night time, and through a wet windscreen he could see an. approaching train without difficulty. Speaking as a motorist he did not consider the crossing to be dangerous.

SHOCKING FATALITY. CYCLIST KILLED BY A TRAIN. PALMERSTON NORTH, This Day. A shocking fatality occurred at Kelvin Grove crossing this morning, when a motor-cyclist, whoso name is not yet known, ran into the northbound Daylight Limited express and was killed instantly, his body being frightfully mutilated. Apparently deceased saw the train when lie was., only 50 feet from the line. The brakes failed to arrest the momentum of his cycle, which struck the engine, the rider being whirled round the wheels.

MAN COMMITS SUICIDE. TAUMARUNUI, This Day. An inquest was held to-day on Henry Marshall Kelly, a Maori, who was found dead at Tawhata on Saturday with a bullet wound in his forehead. A pearifle was laying across the body. The Coroner returned! a verdict of suicide. Deceased left a letter intimating his intention. He was tired of life and intended taking his troubles to the unknown world.

INFANT FOUND DEAD IN COT. OAMARIJ, This Day. A five-months-old child, Desmond Keith Black, was found dead in his cot yesterday morning by his parents, who live in Arun Street. The child was seen by his mother at 2.30 a.m., when all was well. A doctor was called in at 7.30, and pronounced life extinct, death being due probably to suffocation. THREE MOTOR ACCIDENTS. INVERCARGILL, June 1. Three motor accidents occurred at Invercargill on Saturday, fortunately \yithout proving fatal. An elderly lady, Dlrs Marchant, was thrown'from a cycle through a collision with a. car, and received slight concussion and severe shock. . A pedestrian, Dliss Bragg. .was knocked over by a ear and sustained an extensive laceration of the scalp and concussion. Aii auctioneer, Dir DleDonnld, driving a car, ran into a train at Branxholm crossing, near Invercargill, but escaped with a lacerated scalp and fractured ribs.