KELBURN TRAM FATALITY

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 41, 16 February 1918, Page 8

KELBURN TRAM FATALITY

VERDICT OP ACCIDENTAL DEATH

An enquiry into'the circumstances of the death of John Watters, who was killed on tho Kelburn and Karori Tramway Company's line on Thursday afternoon, was held this'morning by Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M.

Sonior-Sergeant Willis conducted the enquiry, and Mr. C. H. Izard watched the enquiry on behalf of the company.

Arthur Charles Evans, brakesman employed by the Tramway Company, said he had known' the deceased for the last seven or eight years. He was 73 years of age, a man of sober and temperate habits, and his hearing and sight were good. Witness was temporarily engaged on surface work in the tunnel just below the Tala-vera tram stop, and was working in company with deceased. About 2 o'clock in the afternoon deceased and witness were packing loose sleepers in the tunnel, witness working on the north rail of the north line, and deceased on the ' north rail of the south line, about eight yards above witness and about twenty feet' inside, the mouth of the tunnel. Witness heard a car coming up the hill about thirty feet away. He looked round and saw deceased standing clear of the rails. After the car passed witness heard a bump and. a shout, and the speed of the ear was checked at once. The deceased was dragged atout nine yards.' Waiters was apparently dead when witness next saw Mm. The body was conveyed to Talavera. station and medical aid immediately sent for. Dr. Young arrived a few minutes later, and, after examination, pronounced life extinct. Witness could offer no explanation as to how deceased was struck, as when he saw him just previous to the accident he was clear of the line. The two wire cables which haul the cars run on pulleys slightly above the ground, and it was possible that if deceased went to cross the line, and trod on one of the travelling cables he would be ■■ thrown down. Deceased was inside the mouth of the tunnel when he was struck. The" brakesman's stand was Jn the rear oT the car, but usually a clear view could be had of the line from the brake box, but if the car was crowded and. people were standing up, the view migKt be obstructed. Witness considered that the average Bpeed of the cars was about 7 or 8 miles per hour. Henry Clive said he acted as brakesman on the car which left the town station at 2.5 p.mv Witness knew that surfacemen were working in the second tunnel, and sounded the gong when in the middle of the tunnel. He saw Charles Evan* at wort, but saw. nothing of deceased. , After travelling a little past Evans to within about a length and a half inside the tunnel month, witness jieard a bump and a shout, and immediately applied ■ the emergency feake, pulling up within a few yards. Witness jumped off the car, and saw deceased lying, just clear'of the rails;" The" car was travelling about eight miles ari hour. The trailer, which in front of. the car, allowed a fair view. The light was fairly good near the mouth of the tunnel, but if a person was stooping down it would be difficult to 'see him, and the nearer the car drew to that person tho more difficult it would fee to see him. The deceased was on the right side of the line going up, and it was difficult to see him in that position. The car carried no lights, but witness considered that any person! of ordinary hearing would have heard the gong sounded. Mrs. Mary Ann Milligan said she was a passenger on the car which struck deceased. Witness occupied the front seat of the car, and when clear of the tnnnel saw two men working- on. the line actually out of the tunnel, aome distance apart and on separate lines. The deceased was_ at first on his knees, working with his back to the car. As it approached _ him he started to rise, but had not time to get out of the way, and was knocked down and run over. , Witness was of the opinion that the accident .occurred outside the tunnel.

Bernard Somes, telegraph, messenger, 14 years of age, eaid he was at the Talavera, station a little after 2 o'olock, waiting for the down car. Deceased was, working on file line just at the mouth of the tunnel, probably outside. Witness was watching the deceased and did not notice the approach of the up-car. Deceased finished packing, and then stood up between the rails, and not to one side. Witness first saw the car when it was about two yards from him. Deceased went to . cross the line, trod on the moving cable, which carried his left foot across in front of "his right, and threw him down in front of the car. Deceased was not knocked down by the car, but was lying on the line when he was struck. Witness heard no gong sounded. Constable Swan, who examined the scene of the accident, said that from the appearance of the ground deceased had been struck about seven yards inside the tunnel. THE COBOATER'S FINDING. The Coroner, after reviewing the evidence, referred to the" conflict of opinion ■ of some of the witnesses as to what the man was doing just previous to the accident, but that would be accounted for by the different positions of the witnesses. In ordinary circumstances the driver would, have been able to see a person standing on the line, but if the deceased was stooping it might have been that the driver would not get a good view of him. It' was clear that the light was good at the time of the accident, and under ordinary conditions the deceased should have seen the car approaching. Although some of the witnesses did not hear the gong sounded that did not prove that the bell was not rang, as witnesses might not notice certain circumstances of that kind. The usual custom was to sound the bell in the tunnel, and the driver had had no provioDs accident in his experience of three years and nine 'months as brakesman. A verdict was returned that the deceased was killed by being accidentally run over by one of the Kelburn and Karori Company's tramcars.