KILLED ON LEVEL CROSSING

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21858, 11 August 1936, Page 9

KILLED ON LEVEL CROSSING

♦ RADIO INSPECTOR’S DEATH ACCIDENT DESCRIBED AT INQUEST A verdict of accidental death was x-e----♦urned at an inquest yesterday into the death of Leonard Theo Olliver, a married man, aged 48, employed by the Post and Telegraph Department as a deputy radio inspector, who was killed on the Langdon’s road level crossing, on the afternoon of July 27. The coroner Mr E. C. Levvey, said that no blame was attachable to any member Of the crew of the train. Sergeant R. Henry conducted the inquest for the police. Mr J. A. Niblock appeared for the relatives, Mr N. S. Dew traffic inspector, for the Railway Department, and Mr J. C. Fairbairn for the Post and Telegraph Department. . Robert John Thomson, engine-driver, said that he was driving the RangioraChristchurch passenger train on the afternoon of July 27. About 1.40 p.m. he approached the signal at Papanui. He sounded the whistle between Northcote road and Sawyers’ Arms road, about 200 yards from the crossing, and again when he saw the car approaching. At the same time he applied the emergency brake but was unable to avoid a collision. No Change in Speed

Witness said that the car w>as travelling about 10 miles an hour, and the speed of the train was 30 to 35 miles an hour. The driver of the car did not appear to realise that the train was approaching, as he neither increased nor decreased his speed.

Douglas Sherry, a fireman actingdriver, who was with the previous witness in the engine cab, gave corroborative evidence.

Stewart Wallace, a retired stationmaster. said that he was walking across ihe Langdon’s road crossing when he heard the whistle of the approaching engine half a mile away. At the same time he saw a car coming towards the crossing. There was only one man in the car, which was travelling about 10 miles an hour. The car continued at the same speed till it reached a slight rise, where it slowed down slightly. The car continued on and witness realised then that the driver was .not aware of the approach of the train. Motor-Car Struck The engine struck the left-hand side of the rear part of the car, witness said, lifting it and turning it right round to crash against the fence at the cattle stop. Witness went back to the scene of the accident and saw the man still in the car. He was lying across the seat alongside the driver’s seat with his head close to the window. He appeared to be dead. The train was not travelling at an excessive speed and sounded the usual signals by whistling vman coming to the crossing. There may have been a slight drizzle of rain at the time, but visibility was good. Witness did not consider this a dangerous crossing, but it was one where caution should be exercised.

Cyril Lancaster Wood, a casual labourer employed by the Railway Department, and George Kirk, who was driving a horse and dray in Langdon’s toad, gave corroborative evidence.

A verdict was returned that Olliver was accidentally killed when a motorcar he was driving collided with a train on the Langdon’s road crossing. There was no evidence of any act, neglect, or omission on the part of any officer on the train which might have contributed to the accident.