Coroner's Court TRUCK DRIVER’S DEATH

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29896, 9 August 1962, Page 10

Coroner's Court TRUCK DRIVER’S DEATH

Struck By Train On Crying

Second* before his 16-ton articulated truck was struck by the Christchurch-Lyttel-ton train at the Scruttons road crossing, Heathcote, the driver appeared to hesitate and change gears, according to evidence given in the Coroner’s Court yesterday. The Coroner (Mr A. T. Bell) found that Peter Keith Harrison, aged 20, died on July 18, the cause of death being multiple injuries sustained when his truck was struck by a train on the Scuttons road crossing.

Evidence was given that the train sounded its horn about 250 yards from the crossing and that it was sounded continuously for about 50 yards before the crossing was reached. Sergeant J. E. O’Regan and Constable W. W. Maloney appeared for the police in all inquests. Other verdicts were:—

Paul Murray Sinclair, aged three, died on December 16. 1961, in an ambulance between Avonhead road and the Christchurch Hospital, the cause of death being shock and hemorrhage from multiple injuries sustained when he was struck by a car driven by Norman Alan Cooper. Ethel Dora Jones, aged 77. died, on June 16 at the Burwood Hospital, the cause of death being bronchial pneumonia associated with burns sustained when her clothing caught alight when she was standing in front of a fire in a house at Amberley on July 4.

Joseph Edward McNulty, aged 73, died on June 17 at his home in London street, Lyttelton, the cause of death being fractures of the skull and cerebral lacerations, there being no evidence to show how the injuries were suffered.

George Percival Wilke, aged 53, died on July 6 at the Christchurch Hospital, the cause of death being fractures of the skull and cerebral lacerations and contusions suffered when he may have fallen from the rafters on to a concrete floor in the woolshed on his farm.

George Roseveare. aged 80. died on June 17, the cause of death being asphyxia from drowning in the Heathcote river.