CAUGHT ON CROSSING

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 51, 23 November 1928, Page 12

CAUGHT ON CROSSING

MOTOR TRUCK STRUCK BY TRAIN MAN KILLED, OTHERS INJURED Dominion Special Service. . Christchurch, November 22. A Public Works' Department truck carrying seven workmen crashed into the 8.55 train to Lyttelton at the Gad’s Road crossing, on the city side of the Woolston station, this morning, and Samuel Thompson, aged 28, a linesman, was so grievously injured that he died before reaching the Christchurch Hospital. Several other men were injured slightly, and were treated at the out-patients’ department. The names of the men on the truck at the time of the crash were us follow:—Samuel Thompson, aged 28, single, a linesman, 57 Dover Street, St. Albans, killed; Thomas Crawford, driver, shock; Albert Bischeskie, ganger, cuts on face and forehead; R. Osborne, linesman, bruises; Carl C. Richardson, linesman, bruises and injuries, to be determined by X-ray examination; P. Clough, linesman, injured back; C. Davison, linesman, bruises. All the men were employed in tlie distribution branch. The men were to engage on what'is known as the last pull on the 11,000-volt supply line from the Addington sub-station for the electrification of the Lyttelton-Christ-church line. Five of the men, including Thompson, were on the rear of the lorry, on which there was a load of ladders and other linesmen’s gear. Bischeskie, the foreman, was seated inside tlie cab alongside the driver, T. Crawford.

Just before the accident occurred the lorry was proceeding towards the hills, and as it neared the crossing the driver swerved slightly to avoid a coal 1 ruck, which was also crossing the lines. When the lorry, was almost on the rails Crawford saw the 8.55 a.m. passenger train from Christchurch to Lyttelton approaching. With a violent twist he tried to swerve the lorry round to a position parallel to the rails, hut be was too late. The engine was running backwards on the trip down to Lyttelton, and the rear of the engine cab caught the back of the lorry with a great deal of force, driving tlie lorry across the cattle stops. Thompson was on the side of the lorry which received the force of the blow from the engine, and was badly hurt. He died on the way-- to the hospital. Richardson and Clough were also on tlie open portion of the lorry and reeeived cuts and bruises. Bischeskie was in tlie cab of the lorry and he was hurt when the lorry went careering through a heavywooden railway fence. The train, which was comprised of four carriages and a van, was pulled up iu three chains from the point of impact. At the' time of tlie collision neither the lorry- nor the train was travelling at a very fast pace, as the crossing is just three chains away from the Woolston station, which is a stopping place for Port trains. The gang of the lorry had intended to stop at the crossing to make some alterations to the wires on the poles which run alongside the. rail-. Way. Traffic ' approaching r; the ;, crossing from the Ferry Road side has a good view of trains approaching from Lyttelton, but tlie . view on the Christchurch side is restricted through tlie road being some feet below the level of the railway line. Before trains coming from Christchurch can be seen the driver of a motor vehicle has to get within a few yards, of the first set of rails, on which the trains from the city travel. The lorry came to a stop on the side of the railway line between the crossing and the Woolston station. It was not badly damaged, and was pushed up on the station platform, and then on the road on the other side, to be towed away soon after by another Public M'orks lorry. The inquest on Thompson was opened this afternoon and adjourned.