MOTOR-CYCLIST KILLED

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21791, 25 May 1936, Page 14

MOTOR-CYCLIST KILLED

Collision With Engine At Rakaia

SEVERE HEAD INJURIES RECEIVED I While riding his motor-cycle across the railway lines in the centre of the Rakaia township about 4.40 on Saturday afternoon Reginald Foster Painter, aged 28 years, a single man, of Darfield, collided with a shunting engine and received severe head injuries, from which lie died less than an hour afterwards.

Shunting was being done at the time, and where Painter tried to cross the railway there are four sets of rails, on two of which rakes of trucks were lying. He was travelling slowlv, and could not have a clear view up and down the line until he got through a- gap in the trucks.

An inquest was opened yesterday morning into the death of Painter, who was a carpenter, living with his parents at Darfield. The enquiry was later adjourned. Painter had attended a football match at Rakaia. where he had gone in search of work, and was crossing the lines in the middle of the township when the accident occurred. He was riding from west to east and started to cross the lines, where there were four sets of rails. On two of these rakes of trucks were standing and shunting was going on. Painter made his way slowly through a gap between two sets of trucks. An engine with some trucks passed in front of him and he then started to cross the remaining lines. An engine without any truck attached, however, was travelling from Ealing to Christchurch, and Painter rode into this. He was travelling slowly at the time. As he fell from his motor-cycle. Painter went forward and is thought to have struck Lis head against the engine close to the firebox. The ambulance from Ashburton was summoned immediately, as it was soon realised that Painter had severe head injuries. He was removed from the track, but died 40 minutes after the accident and just before the ambulance could arrive. His body was later taken to the morgue at Ashburton. Only a very little damage was done to the motor-cycle, being confined mainly to the front wheel and forks.

An inquest into the circumstances of his death was opened yesterday morning before Mr E. C. Bathurst, district coroner for the Ashburton county. Mr G. H. Chambers (stationmaster at Ashburton) represented the Railway Department. Evidence of identification was given by Painter’s father, Mr John Painter, and the hearing was then adjourned sine die. __________