FATAL COLLISION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23284, 1 March 1939, Page 14

FATAL COLLISION

TWO PERSONS KILLED TITIRANGI LEVEL CROSSING EVIDENCE AT INQUEST OLD LINE STILL ON ROAD A collision between a motor-car and a train at the Titirangi level crossing on December 3 involving the deaths of two persons was recalled-yesterday when the inquest was c&hclnded by the coroner, .Mr. F. K. Hunt. The victimii were Cliarles Purnel) Parkerson, married, aged 60, retired company organiser and salesman, of Princes Street, Otahuhu, the driver of the motor-ear, and Mrs. Angelina Harrison, aged 50, of Norfolk Street, Ponsonby, one of ~ the two passengers in the car. William John Kilgonr, driver of the train, said that on the afternoon of December 3 on approaching the crossing, about half a mite north of New Lvnn, he blew the whistle. The speed of the train was 15 miles an hour. The bells'"and crossing signal were working. From the right-hand side of the engine it was impossible to see the approach of the car. Petrol Tank Explodes Reginald Calder, fireman of the train, said that as he drew near,the crossing he noticed a car approaching. As the whistle had been blowing, he concluded that the car would stop. On looking back it appeared that the car was trying to get across in front of the engine. "I called out to the enginedriver that the car was not stopping, but we hit the car before I had finished calling out," said the witness. "Immediately upon the crash the enginedriver applied tlie brakes and brought the train to a standstill, with the guard's van just clear of the burning wreck of the car." Witness added tlrat he put out a small " fire that had broken out on the engine caused by the petirol tank of the car exploding just as the cab of tie engine passed. / John Arthur Howard, guard on the train, said he hurried to the car and noticed a man's body just clear of the flames from the car.' While pulling the body clear he noticed a movement a few feet away and saw Miss Harrison, one of the passengers in the car. He pulled her clear. He also saw the body of Mrs. Harrison lying half in and half, out of the car. The body was burned and she was past all help.

Estimate of Spgsd of Gar "The petition in which Mrs. Harrison was lying "and the position in which I found her daughter suggested to me that the daughter had been endeavouring to remove her mother's body when she was overcome," said the witness. "I cannot say wehther she was overcome by the flames or wounds." Assisted by others, witness rendered first aid to Miss Harrison. .? •* Reginald Henry Earl, :'ieet-metal worker, said the car was travelling at about .35 to 40 miles an hour and did not make any attempt to stop. The train went on for some distance and when it pulled up the guard's van was about 70 yards from the crossing. The new set of rails on which the train was running had been in usg about a fortnight, said the witness. They were about three-quarters of a chain north of the old rails, which were still across the road. The "wig-wag" signal had not been shifted to the new rails. The old rails were filled in after the accident. Comment by Coroner - William * Arthur Southgate,' motor driver, said the train was not travel-ling-fast, and when he noticed the car, which was going from Titirangi toward Auckland, it was in. the centre of the road. The speed of the car was between 30 and 35 miles an hour. The train was closer to the crossing than the car, which continued on until the last moment and then the driver braked and appeared to swing to the left. The front of the car got about half-way across the line when it was struck by the front of the engine. The car burst into flames. The coroner found that Parkergon and Mrs. Harrison died from injuries received when a car in which they vrem travelling accidentally collided with a train at a crossing. "It is unfortunate that the old line, three-quarters of a chain away, had not been removed, as this was, possibly the cause of the accident." commented Mr. Hunt. "It is possible that : the driver of the car thought that he was across the line when he had crossed the old line." '