Walked Into Train

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 74, 27 March 1941, Page 2

Walked Into Train

INQUEST ON CROSSING VICTIM

The Coroner, Mr. A. J. Graham, hold an inquest yesterday into tho death on Alareh 17, of William Jones, aged 69, single, retired, of 200 Broadway Avenue, as the result of walking into the New Plymouth-Wellington express as it was proceeding over the lost Office crossing.

Evidence was given by R. Mercer, engine-driver of tne express, that when his engine had crossed as lar as the southern side of the. Post Office crossing he saw a man walking toward the train limn the right, with nis head down, in the rain. Tne man walked against the right-hand cylinder of the eugiue. He did not see the train. The engine whistle had been sounded 100 yards irom the crossing and tho train was travelling' at aoout j.O inues an hour. The automatic lights and signals were operating. The train was puded up in aoout 30 yards aftor the accident. Witness did not see another train and did not know there was one there until he reached the station. He possibly would not have been able to see the other train because of the curve in the lines in the middle of the Square. In any case, he was taking particular notice of the crossing because the train from New Plymouth “was a notorious one for accidents."

The Coroner said that some years ago, when he was Aiayor of the city, he had occasion to interview Air. H. H. Sterling, then General Alanager of Railways,

as to trains passing on the city crossings and Mr. .Sterling had given an undertaking that this would ue prevent-

Witness said that he did not know of any cancellation of a regulation to this effect.

J. E. Snellgrove, fireman, said he saw the other train, out tnought it was a shunting train. Witness was on tho left-hand side of the express engine. Both trains were ou tne crossing ai the same time and had not deceased walked into the express, ne would have walked into the goods train. YV. 8. xhonisou, statioiimustcr, said he w r ould bring the matter of the regulation before cue department. If the fireman thought the goods train was a siiunting train ho would have expected it to be clear of the crossing berore the express reached it, because a shunting train would be a short one.

Tho Coroner’s verdict was that deceased was accidentally killed fis the result of walking into a railway train. He said he hoped, in the interests of public safety, that the stationmaster w r ould enquire fully into the matters ho (the Coroner) had raised.