SOCKBURN SMASH

Inangahua Times, 4 July 1934, Page 3

SOCKBURN SMASH

HUMAN FACTOR, BLAME OF ACCIDENT. (Per United Press Assn.) 1( cc CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. In a statement released to-night, Mr. Sterling, chairman of the Railways Board, announced, the result of the inquiry into the train smash at Sockbnrn vi on the night of June 2nd., when the h Little River train overtook the station- o ary express from Invercargill, telescop- it ed the hack van and caused consider- 3 able damage. The report places the blame for acci- 1 dent on the human factor. Mr. Sterling said that an unusual conjunction q of events led up to the accident. The express had made an unusual stop on e the main line owing to a defect in the engine. This should, not have given rise to any untoward event. \ Next, one of the automatic signals ' failed to show its distinctive light. | s This also should not have caused anyj j accident, because the signal immediate- ‘ ly preceding was in the caution posi- jj tion, indicating to the driver that a section of line occupied by the ex- - press-, was occupied, and because the rule was definite, that, where there was no signal showing, the position! must be taken as one of danger. Visi-J bility was bad and a drizzling rain! obscured tbe view of tbe tail lights) on the express from the driver of the| Little River train. Everyone of those points should have been covered ard guarded against, had it not been for tbe unfortunate failure in tbe hu’Suitable disciplinary action was be- ‘ ing taken, particularly from the point of view of removing tbe possibility of a similar happening.