LEVEL CROSSING SMASH.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17857, 1 September 1923, Page 9

LEVEL CROSSING SMASH.

INQUEST ON MR C. A. WELLS.

An inquest touching tho death of Charles Arthur Wells, retired farmer, of 76 Harakeke street, Lower Iticcarton, who met his death in a collision between his motor-car and a railway engine, on August loth, was held yesterday by Mr "Wyvern Wilson, Coroner. The accident occurred at the Harewcod' road crossing, near the Papanui railway station. Sergeant A. G. Quartermain conducted the enquiry, and Mr D. E. Wanklyn represented tTio deceased s familv. , Winifred Byrch, of 12 Knowlcs street, Papanui, who was the other occupant of the motor-car, said that at o.ou p.m. they approached the Harewood. road crossing. Witness saw a train at tho railwav station, but heard uo whistle. The lights were showing on the car, which approached tho crossing at a slow speed. Witness saw t-h© other train just as the car was on the line. The. engine hit the car, and siw did not remember much more about the accident. The hood was up and tho side curtains by tho front seat were down. . , . To Sergeant Quartermain: Her attention was taken up, when the car was approaching the line by the train .it th© station. The car went very slowly, but it did not stop. She did not hear any train whistle. Probably Mr Wells knew the times at which the trains ran, and did not expect one at the time of the accident, for the train was running late. , Selwyn Atherston Tomkins said he. was standing on the Papanui station when the collision occurred. The car was travelling at about twelve miles an hour, and there was a train coming from Christchurch. There were no alarm bells at the crossing. Witness heard the train whistle before it struck the car. To the Coroner: There was ft paling fence on the right-haud side of the line. The car was thrown over on to the Papanui side of the line, and both occupants were thrown out. The tram whistled for the signal a good way down the line and then again when it got to the crossing. - : Winter Strachan, the driver of the train, said he blew a long whistle 300 yards from the crossing. When 150 yards away he noticed three men on the line, so he whistled again to attract their attention. "As we .approached the cattle-stops," slid the witness, "the fireman called out 'Stop!' I applied the brake, and as we got on to the road we struck th© motor-car. The car was knocked clear of the engine,. and it collided with a telegraph post a few feet from the Toad. •About four, carriages had got .over the crossing when the train stopped. There are no bells at the crossing. Tho headlight of tho engine was burning brightly." Constable R. Miller stated that when he found Wells he was lying unconscious. There was an ambulance kit at the station { and several men knew how to administer first aid, but they could do nothing for the injured man. Wells died at the Hospital at about S.l.Tp.m., five minutes after aJmusicn. The Coroner stated that deceased was returning in the dusk, - which was a dangerous time. It was to be cxa'ed that he would keep a sharp out. "I don't think he was doing so," said" Mr Wilson, "and I am satisfied that the engine whistled. He was only considering the Papanui railway station side, and a train came up on the other side and stru-ck the car, throwinrr liim. out and fracturing his skull. The driver of the train was in rci way to' blame." The Coroner found that Mr Wells died from injuries received in a collision between his cap and the train, and that no blame was attachable to the driver.