WHARF FATALITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23861, 11 January 1941, Page 12

WHARF FATALITY

DEATH OF WATEBSIDEE THROWN UNDER TRUCK THE CORONER'S VERDICT An accident which led to the death of: Frank .Robert Groom, commonly known as Gray, aged 58, on the eastern side of King's Wharf, on November 26. was described by several witnesses at the inquest, which was resumed before the coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, yesterday. Deceased had been engaged in working cargo, and. a railway engine pulling a rake of trucks passed where he ivas standing. One of the trucks fouled a loading basket standing near by, and it in turn knocked a handbarrow with which Groom became entangled, with the result that he was thrown under a truck and received fatal injuries. An Estimate of Speed Sergeant Bennett conducted the inquiry on behalf of the poilee. Mr. Allan .J. Moody appeared for the Richardson Shipping Company, owners of the vessel being worked; Mr. G. S, R. Meredith for the Railway Department; Mr. Sullivan for relatives and the Waterside Workers' Union; and Mr. J. B. Elliot for insurance companics. William Sharp MeCormiek safd lie estimated the speed of the train at about 10 miles an hour. In answer to Mr. Sullivan, witness said it was always the custom to have someone at the ship's side to look after the safety of the men when a train was passing. Warning of Train Given lu answer to Mr. Meredith, witness said he did not see the train slow down before the accident. Another -waterside worker said he was unable to offer any explanation as to how the basket fouled the railway trucks. He had never seen a similar occurrence. The driver of the engine, Henry James Miller, said that just prior to the accident he had had to stop the train for a hand-truck to be moved. When lie got the clear signal he went on at slow speed until he heard someone calling on him to stop. He could not say how the truck came to foul the basket. Another witness said that the men had been warned that the train was coming, and a constable estimated the speed of the train at five miles, an hour. The coroner returned a verdict that the deceased died from injuries received when he was accidentally thrown under the train.