HYDE DISASTER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 8, 20 October 1943, Page 5

HYDE DISASTER

DRIVER OF TRAIN ON TRIAL. CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER. (P.A.) DUNEDIN. October 19. The trial of John Alphonsus Corcoran, the driver of the train involved in the tragic Hyde derailment, in which 21 persons were killed, on June 4, on a charge of manslaughter, was commenced in the Supreme Court to-day before Mr Justice Kennedy and a jury. Mr F. B. Adams represented the Crown, and Mr E. J. Anderson appeared for the accused. Mr Adams said it would not be denied by the accused that he had drink before leaving Ranfurly, though the evidence regarding the amount varied. It was a grave responsibility for one in accused’s position to drink, but, drunk or* sober, if he had driven the train at an excessive speed, he was guilty of the crime charged. Oliver Joseph Doidge, district railways engineer at Dunedin, gave details of the extent of the damage done to the carriages. He was convinced that the defects, in the. line on the curve were not there before the accident.

“What facilities has an enginedriver for adjusting speed on these curves?” Mr Anderson asked.

Witness replied that, the driver had to use his judgment. As far as he knew express engines did not have speed recorders to assist the drivers. A succession of engines travelling over the line at normal speed might cause 1 a “kick-out,” or cant, on the line. If this condition were present, at a speed on a curve of 35 miles an hour, there was a risk of derailment.

The hearing was adjourned until tomorrow.