AVONDALE RAILWAY FATALITY

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 66, 17 March 1916, Page 3

AVONDALE RAILWAY FATALITY

ACCIDENT AT CROSSING

JVTDENCE OF EYE-WITNESSES.

The inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of David Daniels, w ho was killed at the Avondale railway station yesterday as the result of being struck by fin engine, was held before Mr. E. "Page, S.M., at the Coroner's Court this morning. Mr. Daniels was a well known resident of Avondale, employed in Barton's boot factory, Kingsland. He , was 73 years of n age, and leaves a wife and The first witness ealleif was Walter Owen Grigg, who stated that when he was crossing the northern end of the platform he noticed deceased at the turnstile. Witness Saw the engine about twenty or thirty yards away, and told deceased, who was lame, not to cross. He himself ran across, and when he looked round deceased was just crossing in front of the engine. The driver blew the whistle and shouted "Look out." He was, however, struck hv the engine, and appeared to be dragged for about a carriage length. Witness stated that deceased was very stiff in walking, as he suffered from his feet. He also stated that the general mode of entrance was through the stile, which had been placed there when the overhead bridge was placed across the line. An approaching train was visible from the turnstile. Amos Firth deposed that when he entered the station his attention was drawn by the whistle. When within about five or cix yards he noticed the driver make a quick movement, and heard the brakes applied. He immediately realised that something was the matter. He looked around, and noticed deceased about four yards away walking towards the train quite unconcerned. When within about a yard from the train the latter seemed to realise his danger, and made a quick movement to get clear. His foot, however, was caught by the cow-catcher, and he disappeared from witness' line of vision. Witness further testified to the removal of the body from under the engine with the aid of jacks. There were probably 75 to 100 people using the turnstile to reach this train daily. The signalman at Avondale, Charles Dunham, said that while descending the stairs to get the tablet he heard a shrill whistle. Looking round, he saw deceased being pushed along in front of the cow-catcher, his head being underneath. He calculated the number of people crossing at the 6.30. 7, and 7.20 a.m. trains from 100 to 150. There were a similar number at the evening trains. "Witness calculated the speed at about 20 miles per hour. The driver of the train, George Percy Wallace, deposed that after crossing CracToft Road he shut off steam, and popped the whistle for the footpath crossing. He then noticed the deceased approaching. As he did not take any notice when he blew the whistle, hV applied the emergency brake, but was unable to bring the train to a stop before the deceased was struck. He got down, and helped to jack up the train. He estimated the speed from S to 10 miles. This evidence was corroborated by Alexander Hannah, the fireman of the engine. The Coroner decided not to pive his yerdict until he had viewed the scene of the accident.