HELENSVILLE MOTOR FATALITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15206, 21 January 1913, Page 8

HELENSVILLE MOTOR FATALITY.

INQUEST RESUMED. THE ENGINEDRIVER'S STORY. [BY TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Helensville, Monday... The inquest on the death of Ellen Mary Gordon, who was killed in the motor accident at Kaukapakapa on January 14, was continued to-day.

Alexander Russell Osbaldiston, a farmer, resident at Kaukapakapa deposed that he met the car about 440 yds from the crossing, when the occupants asked if they were on the road to Wellsford. The car was going slowly. The car left him at the rate of about 20 miles an hour. He considered the crossing dangerous to strangers. There being high hedges on both sides they would not be able to see the lino until within a few chains of it. There is a dip approaching the crossing, the rails being in the middle of it. He heard one whistle when the train was just above the crossing. He did not hear the train and did not think to warn the people in the car of the crossing when they asked about the road.

Cecil Osborne Lucas, acting enginedriver, stated that he was driving on Tuesday, January 14, from To Hana to Helensville. He whistled twice when nearing Kaukapakapa, when about 400 yds, and again when 250 yds* from the crossing. The train was travelling at from 10 to 12 miles an hour. There were two hedges between the engine and the road. When he first saw the car the driver appeared to be turning the steering wheel. The car appeared to be coming' straight for the engine, and struck it about the middle. Witness had already the brakes set to stop at the station,, and gave the full emergency power, stopping the rear luggage van opposite the smashed car. He did not consider the crossing more dangerous than a number of others.

Henry Wilfred Bellini, the guard on the train, deposed that he was standing at the van door. He saw dust about 50yds away, then saw the occupants and the car thrown into the air. He .was knocked down by the jar. On' getting up the van had pulled up alongside the occupants. The car was about 15ft back. Deceased, when he first saw, her, appeared to be dead." He then sent word for medical assistance. Deceased had her head and neck in a depression adjacent to the cattle stop. He thought there was sufficient indication that a railway line was in the vicinity. Witness was ■of opinion that the driver "of the car thought to make the crossing before the train. It was the use of the emergency brake which threw him down.

Five views of the scene taken for tho benefit of the jury were on the table. At this stage the inquest was further adjourned until Monday, January 27.