KILLED AT A CROSSING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14912, 10 February 1912, Page 8

KILLED AT A CROSSING.

I THE STYX FATALITY. ______ INQUEST ON THE VICTIMS. . [BT SELEGHAPH.—-PRESS ASSOCIATION.] \ Cheistchurch, Friday. An inquest on the bodies of the victims of the Styx railway crossing accident— Marshall Brown and Peter Fransden — held by the Coroner (Mr. H. W. Bishop, S.MO to-day. Robert Pringle, railway engine-driver, said he was in charge of the mid-day train from Christchurch to Rangiora . Wednesday. . About 300 yds from the crossing witness blew the whistle, and then again 50yds from the crossing. Tho last whistle was in answer to the stationmaster's signals. Immediately before tho engine entered the crossing the fireman sang out,, "Look out." Witness applied the brake, and the next he saw was tho motor car and the cowcatcher meeting. Other evidence was given aa to the speed of the car when approaching the crossing, and the collision, the smash up of the car, and the death of the* occupants. ' / . Tho Coroner said it was quite clear it was one of " those unfortunate accidents." Whatever speed might be proved, it did not alter the fact that there had,been a calamity. He had himself been over the crossing scores of times, and it' was a dangerous one. All crossings were dangerous. '

In reply to an interjection faom Mr. Stringer, ' who appeared for the Railway Department, the Coroner said he knew the Railway Department had statutory right with regard to crossings, and cars should pull up when approaching them. 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 that the Public Works Amendment Act, 1911, threw upon the local authority the duty of seeing that fences-and hedges, etc., of the nature in question were removed.

The Coroner returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased met their death by accidentally colliding with a train when travelling in their motor car from Rangiora to Christchurch.