CROSSING FATALITY.

Grey River Argus, 14 December 1928, Page 5

CROSSING FATALITY.

NEED FOR PRECAUTION Stressed by Coroner. (Per Press Association). CHRISTCHURCH, December 13. An inquest was held to-day into the death of Samuel Thomson, aged 26, who was killed in a collision between a train and Public Works lorry at the Woolston level crossing on November Thomas Srawford, driver of the motor lorry, said he approached the line at a speed of eight to ten miles an hour. He was about 20ft from the line when he first saw the engine approaching. A macrocarpa hedge, eight feet high, obscured his view. He did not hear the engine whistle. Herbert Norman Stokes, driver of the locomotive, said he whistled twice when approaching the crossing. He applied both brakes when he saw the lorry, but the train struck it. None of the men on the lorry were actually struck by the engine. Mr Mosley (Coroner), in giving the verdict, said he had no evidence that the corner was specially dangerous It seemed to him that if the drivers of the vehicles exercised ordinary care, there should be no special danger. “I cannot but emphasise,” said the Coroner, “the necessity for utmost care to be taken by vehicular traffic approaching railway crossings. I know that probably I am wasting breath. I know that motor drivers don’t do this sort of thing.” The Coroner returned a formal verdict.