KINGSLAND FATALITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15482, 13 December 1913, Page 5

KINGSLAND FATALITY.

DANGEROUS CROSSING. VIEW OF LINE OBSCURED. VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH. The adjourned inquest into the circumstances connected with the death of Thaddeus John Petford, who was killed on the Onslow Road level crossing, Kingsland, on December 3, in a collision between a vehicle and a train, took place yesterday before Mr. F. V. Frazer, 8.M., coroner. Mr. Selwyn Mays appeared for the Railway Department and Mr. A. E. Skelton for the relatives of the deceased. John Mark Vial, fireman on the train which collided with the vehicle, stated that the whistle was blown just after the train had passed George Street crossing, about 200 yds from the Onslow Road crossing. About a chain from the crossing, he noticed the deceased approaching in a trap, on the wrong side of the road, but he was endeavouring to pull up. He pulled up on the rails, and the engine struck the horse and the deceased was swung round and dragged for a distance on his shoulder. At the time the train was travelling at 10 miles per hour, but they were slowing down for the stop at Kingsland station. Owing to the line being a down-grade, steam had been shut off above George Street crossing, and under such conditions the train did not make a great deal of noise. Nothing could have been done to avert the collision. James Hannan, the driver of the train, gave corroborative evidence. When he noticed the deceased so near the line, the brakes were already on lightly, and he put them right over to the emergency position, though he knew that it was impossible" to stop in the distance. Walter James Carr, guard on the train, estimated its speed at the time at 15 miles an hour. W. J. Robertson, a spectator, said that Petford trotted his horse on to the line. Ho was looking towards Kingsland, and did not appear to notice the approach of the train. Even then, he might have saved his life by jumping clear, but, instead, ho shortened the reins to pull the horse round. Ernest J. Bceby, another spectator, said that he did not hear the whistle. A schoolboy named Walter T. Mackrell said that the engine gave a faint whistle about six seconds beforo the collision. Peter Irwin, a passenger on the train, stated that before reaching the Onslow crossing, the engine gave a loud, strong whistle, and almost simultaneously the brakes were put on. Dr. P. Moir stated that the cause of death was a fracture, of the skull. In giving his verdict, Mr. Frazer said that the facts were plain. 'Die deceased was driving at a comparatively slow pace. The whistle was blown, but it was evident that the deceased did not hear it. At that point the train travelled almost noiselessly owing to the steam being shut off. It was evident that no blame was attachable to the driver or fireman, and his verdict would be one of accidental death. With regard to the general position, there was no doubt, said Mr. Frazer, that the crossing was a very dangerous one, since a view along the line could not be obtained until one got to the rails. Moreover, the stop" signal was practically hidden, and a stranger might easily find himself on the crossing before he knew that it was there.