RAILWAY ACCIDENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 21, 23 December 1925, Page 8

RAILWAY ACCIDENT

DEATH OF MR D. N. PYE. ... , \ KNOCKED DOWN BY WAGGON. An inquiry into tho circumstances surrounding the death of Douglas Norman Pye, shunter, of Palmerston North, who passed away in the Palmerston North Hospital on Sunday last following on injuries received in the local railway yards tho preceding Tuesday, was conducted at tho Courthouse this morning before tho Coroner, Mr A. J. Graham. Sergeant Power conducted proceedings on behalf of tho police. Mr Ongley appeared for tho A.S.R.S. and Mr M. Vance for the Railway Department. Dr. N. Waddle, house surgeon at the hospital, gavo evidence that de-. ceased had been admitted to the. in-' stitution at about 3.30 o’clock on tho day of tho accident suffering from acute shock and extensive laceration of tho whole of tho abdominal wall. There was no sign of internal injuries. Deceased was treated for shock and tho wounds were dressed. The patient’s condition becoming very low, an operation was performed, but deceased passed away at 3 o’clock on Sunday morning. A post mortem examination revealed internal injuries and tho cause of death was shock and extonsivo bruising of the bowel, resulting in paralysis. Deceased’s condition had been hopeless from tho start, although this had not been apparent when ho had been admitted. An earlier operation would not have had any beneficial effect; possibly, it would havo hastened his death. Jacob Stevens, railway porter at Palmerston North, gavo evidence that, while on duty on the afternoon of December loth, he had seen deceased taking the numbers of stationary waggons. Tho yard was very dusty at the time owing to a strong wind and deceased, in stepping back, apparently to avoid a swirl of dust, was struck by a moving waggon on the next set of rails. He was' thrown to the ground and pushed along, although the wheels did not pass over tho body. Medical aid was summoned, and deceased was shifted to the hospital. Tho Coroner: Then, in your opinion, tho cause of death was because he stepped back to avoid dust and was struck by the waggon? —Yes. Except for the dust, there was no reason for deceased to step back at all ?—None.

There was plenty of room for him to take numbers without being struck by a wagon on an adjoining line?— Y es. In reply to Mr Gngley, witness said that tho yard was usually hosed down when wild was blowing to avoid the dust nuisance. The yard had not been hosed on tho day of tho accident, although the dust had been very bad. In witness’s opinion, tho yard should be sprayed with oil. COMMISSION’S RECOMMEN DATIONS. Do you know if any of the commission’s recommendations have been carried out?—l believe they are in hand. The lighting has been improved. To the Coroner: It was a standing order that the yard should be sprayed with water on dusty days. Mr Vauee: Aro you aware that in other parts of tho Dominion where spraying by oil has been tried-the shunters have objected ?—No. Tho Coroner: Is that because oil would cause other danger? Nil- Vance: Yes. The shunters in. other parts of the Dominion have objected because oil makes tho yards slippery and dangerous. Walter Goodyear, salesman, of Palmerston North, deposed that lie had witnessed the accident from the railway platform. He, too, was of the opinion that deceased had moved back to avoid a swirl of dust. After he had been knocked down, lie was bowled over 13 or 14 times aiid the truck filially came to a standstill through one of tile wheels skidding on a hard object in one of deceased’s pockets. Deceased, although injured, had struggled out from under the truck and had at once been given assistance. In witness’s opinion there was not enough room between the sets of rails for men to work in safety. In reply to the Coroner, Mr Vance said that more room between the rairn could not be provided in the present yards. THE DUST NUISANCE. Tho Coroner, in returning a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, said he was satisfied that the fatality was purely accidental, but he trusted that the department would note what had been said about the dust nuisance. 11l reply to Air Graham, Mr Vance said that he did not know whether tho department had done anything yet in regard to the recommendations of the commission, but he presumed that, it h::d not had the findings long enough 'to start putting them into effect.