SURFACEMAN’S DEATH

Evening Star, Issue 20416, 22 February 1930, Page 13

SURFACEMAN’S DEATH

PROCEEDINGS AT INQUEST The adjourned inquest into ifio circumstances of the death of Alexander Gray ? who was a railway surfaceman residing at Flat Stream and was struck by a train near Pukerangi on February 2, was resumed at the courthouse this morning, before Mr 11. J. Dixon, S.M., sitting as coroner. Sergeant Wade conducted proceedings for the police and Mr E. Newman represented the Railway Department. James Alexander Fronde said that he was an engine driver and was driving the engine of a goods train which left Dunedin at 8,40 p.m. on February 2 last. Everything went well until they reached a corner about a-quar-ter of a mile from Pukerangi. The train was travelling at a speed of about thirty miles an hour when Gray was hit. Something dragged on the engine, and he and his mate knew that they had hit something. They went round to the front of the engine and found the trolly hanging there. The headlight gave a fairly good light, ani when he felt the ballast thrown up ho came to the conclusion that he had struck something. Witness thought the engine had picked up the velocipede as the train rounded the curve. Witness went to the back and told the guard they had hit something, deceased being found lying at the side of the line 70yds to the rear of the train. The deceased was still breathing, but was very badly injured. He was lifted into the van, first ajd being rendered after which the train proceeded to Pukerangi. . Gray died before Middlemarch was reached. At the point where the accident happened there was a curve which made vision ahead difficult.

Samuel Gillies, railway fireman, corroborated the evidence of the previous witness, and said that it would be about 10.50 p.m. when the accident occurred. Joseph Smith, railway guard, and William Thoms Gray, brother of the deceased, also gave evidence, the latter stating, that deceased was a man of temperate habits. The inquest was adjourned to Middlemarch till Friday next.