RAILWAY FATALITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22400, 22 April 1936, Page 16

RAILWAY FATALITY

MOTOR DRIVER'S DEATH RESUMPTION OF INQUEST EVIDENCE BY ENGINE CREW [by telegraph—owx correspondent] HUNTLY, Tuesday The inquest was resumed to-day before Mr. F. Harris, coroner, concerning the death of Joseph Harry Anslow, single, aged 24, of Ohinewai. Deceased was killed when a motor-van he was driving was struck by the AucklandWellington express on March 18 at the Ohinewai level crossing. Lawrence Edward Hewer, manager of the business by which deceased was cinploj'cd, said that on the day of the accident deceased was in good health. Deceased was not addicted to drink or the taking of drugs. Hugh William Agnew, of Newmarket, driver of the express, said that on approaching the crossing at 5.5 p.m. ho gave the usual warning whistle. A second or two later his fireman called out to stop. Witness applied the emergency brake immediately and the train pulled up in a little over a train s length from the crossing. The train was travelling at about 50 miles an hour.

Sounding ol "Whistle Witness said the train would be 300 yards from the crossing when he sounded the whistle. The motor-van did not approach from his side of the train. He did not see it at any stage. He blew the whistle three times, first about 300 yards from the crossing and last at the crossing. The train was running lo minutes late. On about 35 per cent of the trips it .was late. George William Wright, of Auckland, fireman of the engine, said that when the train was approaching the crossing he saw a motor-van leave the goods shed. It travelled the road parallel to the railway line. On reaching tho highway it turned toward the crossing. There was every indication that it was going to stop, but did not do so, and then appeared to accelerate. Van Struck in Centre Witness said he saw that a collision was about to take place and called to the driver to stop. The train pulled up in its own length. The van was struck in the centre, on the right-hand side. Witness corroborated the evidence of the driver as to the warning whistles. George Robert Alexander Waller, tablet porter at' Ohinewai, said he heard the whistle of the express as it approached the north side of the station. Witness said deceased collected goods at the station almost every day. On the day of the accident some empty waggons were on tho goods 6hed line, but thov would not interfere with the view of'the line from the crossing. Tho crossing was an open one and there was nothing to obstruct the view of the line. The inquest was adjourned pending medical evidence.