MOTOR FATALITY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17701, 30 January 1918, Page 8

MOTOR FATALITY.

THE STYX CROSSING COLLISION

ADJOURNED INQUEST.

Proceedings in connection with the adjourned inquest on the body of Eliza Martha Ashworth, who met her death in a collision between a motor-car and train at the Styx railway crossing on •Saturday morning, were resumed yes-

terday afternoon at tho Magistrate's Court, before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, Coroner. Mr Gresson appeared on behalf

of Mr Ashworth, and the Railway Department was represented by Messrs *vii'recl K. Harris (Assistant District 'iraiSc Manager), and G. C. Sniitft (Locomotive foreman of Railways, Linwood). James Ashworth, farmer, of Saltwater Crock, husband of deceased, stated that he was driving his motor to Chrisbclmrch on the morning of JanuI o-ry 26. His wife and three daughters were also in the'ear. Approaching the railway crossing at Styx witness heard Uo bell or signal, and saw nothing. He was travelling at about five or six miles an hour. Ho sow the train when, about ten or twelve yards from tho line, and endeavoured to pull u». He recognised, however, that he was likely to come to rest on the line, and endeavoured to clear it, but failed by a littleTo Mr Harris: Witness took ordinary precautions on approaching the line. ! lie- was on his right side of the road. Ho saw nothing of the train until the engine was on the cattle stops by line erossinc. Witness did not hear the automatic bell. Ho «-ns slightly deal, but not enough to prevent him hearing bells ringing. Ho saw no signal. Mr Gresson said that of all the dangerous crossings on the line Styx wr.Ji the only one without a " windmill ' signal. , . , The Coroner: Perhaps .that is because there is an automatic bell. Witness, continuing, stated that he looked carefully hut did not see any s>n of an approaching tram. To Mr Gressou : A high hedge was on the right-hand side of the road up to within' twenty yards of the line. There was also a growth of weeds near tho line, which he noticed on passing tho spot that day had been mown down. To Mr Harris: The weeds interfered with his view to some extent. He was not sure whether they were inside, or outside the fence. . Ernest Kinnear. a youth of sixteen .vears, who was on the Styx station at the time of the approach of the tram, said he heard a whistle and also the bells ringing. A horse and cart had gone over the line just before the motor-car. Witness saw the engine strike the hack wheel of the motor. To Mr Harris: He saw the motorcar slow down and'almost stop on the line. To Mr Gresson: From the time of his hearing the whistle to the accident probably six seconds elapsed. The whistle 'itself lasted about three or four seconds. Witness felt certain that two bells were ringing. It was about fifty yards from the station to the crossing. He knew the car was about twelve var'ds from the crossing when ho saw it. "because that was approximately the distance at which an object could be seen as it neared the line. The train whistled about two hundred yards from the crossing. He believed tho bells were ringing when the horse and trap went over the line. Robert Kirk, driver of the train, gave evidence that he sounded a long whistle about three hundred yards from the crossing. A shorter whistle was given when about one hundred yards away, and then another nearer the crossing. He was on the right side of the engine and did not see the ear. The fireman saw it and called out. The brakes were applied,, hut the engine was within a few yards of tho crossing at the time of the occurrence. The next he knew was that the'engine had struck the car. To Mr Gresson : The train would be travelling at about thirty-five miles an hour. There were five carriages and two vans on the train, which at that speed could be pulled up in a train's length.

To Mr Harris: He did not remember hearing the hells. His attention was diverted at the moment hy tho fireman calling out. Within three hundred yards "of the station three distinct whistles were sounded.

William James, fireman of the train, corroborated the driver's statements as to the sounding of the whistle, and stated that he saw the motor-car when a few yards only from the crossing.

To the Coroner: From about fifteen yards away he could see about five yards flown the road. Removal of fences would enable a good view to be obtained. Mr Gresson said that, local bodies had the power to order the cutting down of hedges that were too high and were obstructing the view of a road. Tho Railway Deparment did not appear to have the power. Witness, continuing, said that he had been on the line for five years. A good look-out was kept when approaching crossings. He could not say whether the Styx crossing was considered dangerous.

The Coroner: It is the second serious accident that has occurred there.

Replying to Mr Gresson witness stated that some crossings were no doubt dangerous. If hedges were ketyt cut low it would make a great difference to train officials and those travelling on roads.

The Coroner stated that it was not necessary to call any further evidence. He would record a verdict that de»ceaseel had died as the result of a collision between a railway train- and a motor-car at the Styx railway crossing on the morning of January 26. and that there was no evidence to show that any bla-me was attachable to the driver of the train or to Mr Ashworth, tvbo drove the motor-car. A rider was added drawing the attention of tho local bodv of the district to the condition of the fences at the crossing and requesting that steps be taken to have them lowered.

The funeral of Mrs Ashworth, which took place yesterday, was one of the htrrrest hitherto seen in the district to> which tho deceased I'ady belonged. The remains were interred in tho Baleairn Cemetery. and the Revs J. Guv, P. Greenwood. W. Ready and C. Ahernethy took part in the burial service, tho lastnamed minister giving an impressive address, in tho cc.Mrso of which he referred to Mr; Ashworth's many estimable qualities and to the widespread feeling of sympathy with the husband and family. Many beautiful wreaths were placed on the grave, one being from the Maoris at Tnahiwi, amongst whom Mrs Ashworth spent about forty years assisting to. educate the young Natives.