KILLED ON RAILWAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19805, 28 November 1927, Page 11

KILLED ON RAILWAY.

DEATH OF A SURFACEMAN. TROLLEY IN FRONT OF TRAIN. FATALITY NEAR OHINGAITI. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] TAIHAPE, Saturday. An inquest concerning the death of John Edward Ley, a railway surfaceman, who received fatal injuries in a collision between a goods train and a trolley near Ohingaiti ou Friday, was opened before the district coroner. Mr. J. P. Aldridge, at Ohingaiti. Henrietta Ley, wife of deceased, stated that her husband was 38 years of age and a native of England. He had resided in the Dominion for fivo years, during which time he had been employed by the Railway Department He came to Ohingait last May. When he left home at abou 7.30 a.m on Friday a strong southerly wind was blowing.

David Matthew Mitchell said J.j found the body of deceased lying alongside tb' railway line nea; the Makohine . aduet An examination showed that death was duo to a compound fracture of the skull, and laceration of the brain. Ley also sustained a broken ankle. In the opinirm of witness death was instantaneous. William Darcy Davies, ganged at Ohingaiti, said that deceased was employed under his supervision. In company wit' Surfaceman Patmore witness travelled on a trolley as far as the Makohine viaduct and then alighted, as i° knew a train was ciue. A minute later a goods train passed by on its way to Ohingaiti. The train was on time, and as soon as it had passed witness looked across tho low side of the curve and saw a trolley containing Ley and Betteridgr travelling toward the viaduct. From where witness was stand ing he could see that an accident was in cvitable. The train, which was travelling at approximately 30 miles an hour, struck tho trolley head-on, and then slowed down, but before it could stop it had carried Ley about 13 chains with his head pinned underneath the cowcatcher. Betteridge was thrown clear. Ley had been sitting on the trolley with his back to tho train, while Betteridge was facing it. Witness said that portion of the lino where the accident occurred was practically level, and although there was a long curve the view was quite clear, and a person keeping a proper look-out would be able to see the train come out of the tunnel, and enter tho viaduct. There would be ample time to remove a trolley from tho line. When a strong wind was blowing, as was the case at the time of the accident, the hat usually worn by a surfaceman would probably . fall over his eyes, thus obscuring his view. At the time of tho fatality the wind was travelling in the same direction as the train and should assist tho men on the trolley to hear the train.

The inquest was adjourned sine die,