GUARD RUN DOWN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21064, 8 April 1943, Page 2

GUARD RUN DOWN

RAILWAY FATALITY TRAGEDY AT \VAITARA (P.A.) NEW PLYMOUTH, April 8. An accident-.during-shunting operations in the Waitarri railway"station yard' at 6.30 'o’clock yesterday sresulted in the almost - instant death of a guard who’ was preparing a train for a trip from Waiiara- to Lepperton with stock wagons. The man killed was' Samuel' 'Victor Kiddie, ; aged :H----years'; a "married' man ' with' two children. He dived a't Waitara. Mr. Kiddie' was riding on' the left side of the i'rdnt cow-catcher'of the engine and is believed to have been in the act of crossing over to the opposite side while the engine was in motion. He slipped and fell in front of the engine, the left wheel of the front bogie of which passed over the middle part of Jus .body. The driver and-fireman were not aware of anything until they felt a bump. The-body-was dragged for about ‘ 68 .Ids. before the -engine was stopped;

Mr. Kiddie spoke to some'of the other railway officials, but when the elector' "arrived he’ was given an anaesthetic and died in a few minutes without regaining consciousness. 'He Had had- 20 years bf service in the Railway Department and was transferred to-Waitara- from Taihape. >