STYX RAILWAY FATALITY.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 49, 10 February 1912, Page 5

STYX RAILWAY FATALITY.

INQUEST ON THE VICTIMS. A DANGEROUS CROSSING. Christchurch, Feb. 9. An inquest on the bodies of the victims of the Styx railway crossing accident, Marshall Brown and Peter I’arns.den, was held by the coronei' (Mr. H. VV. Bishop, S.M.) to-day. Robert Pringle, railway engine driver, said he was in charge of the mid-day train from Christchurch to Rangiora on Wednesday. Three Hundred yards from the crossing the wincss blew the whistle, and again filty yards from the crossing. The last whistle was in answer to the stationmaster’s signals. Immediately before the engine entered the crossing the fireman sang out, "Look out.” Witness applied the brake and the next thing he saw was the motor car and cowcatcher meeting. ■ Ollier evidence was given as to the speed of the car approaching the crossing, the collision, the smash up of the car and the death of the occupants. •

The coronor said it was quite clear it was one of “these unfortunate ac cidents.” Whatever speed might be proved it did not alter the fact that there had keen a calamity. He had himself been over the crossing scores ( f time, and it was a dangerour one. All crossings were dangerous. In reply to an interjection from Mr Stringer, who appeared for the Railway Department, the coronor said lie knew the Railway Department had a statutory right with regard to crossings, and cars should pull up when approaching them : "but we all take risks." s-ahl lie. Mr. Stringer said he wished to point out a fact which the public generally, and probably even the Automobile Association, did not know. It was the Public Works Amendment Act. 191!. which threw tip< ti tiie 1< cal authority the duty of seeing that fences, hedges, etc., of the natuvi m question were removed, The Cwv.u.y returned a verdict that the d: censed met th<-!r death by a<videni I,'. <-i Hiding with tt train whin irn veiling tn their motor car fre .n Rangicra to Christchurch.