LEVEL CROSSING ACCIDENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16752, 21 July 1916, Page 7

LEVEL CROSSING ACCIDENT

THE RECENT MOTOR FATALITY. INQUEST RESUMED. Tho inquest concerning tho death of Chilile*, luno-t Collirio, who wa.s killed in i motor diaduit by collision with a ti<iin at tho IJirdon load crossing, Mo«i;iU, on Julj 1, was u->iurud at Mosgiei jesteiday b\ the Ooronei (All 11. Y. \\ Kldou son). Cluet Uetectne JiishoiJ conducted tho piocoedings on behalf ot tho police, and B. b. Jrwm appeared on behpll of 1' Ma.v», tho timer ol iho motor car. David Claud lU'Connaehie, .uting iiiom.'ui on the ;-<ulwa\.s, .said that on Jnl,\ 1 lio wius on a mi\ed tiam leading Djiiidm at 35U jj m., and due u> armo at Mosgiel at 4 17 p.m. hen the tram was apyiuadiing tho crossing a motoi c.u- came jnto sight on the lett hand &ido of tile engine. \\ ituoss was bitting with his head out of tho -window keeping a look-out. Tho whistle was blown about 500 jards irom the crossing, according to tho ordinal} lule, and again when 50 .\.irds fiom the eroding. 'J'ho train was travelling at about 20 miles an hour. Ho had a mow of tho car ioi buch a short dist.l4loo that he would not t> iy whether tho di-iver o£ it attempted to blow m> or not. To Mr lrwin: lio had boon on "that particular train before, but not .since. Two whistles were certainly gi\en. Tho engino was just on tho crossing when ho f'ir&t saw tho motor oar That would bo about 10 yaids oil'. It was about 25 j.uds from tho shop corner to tho rails on which tho train ■ -was running. To tho Chief Detectivo: If tho whistle had not been sounded m accotdance with thu usual practice witness would have noticed it. Detectivc-eeigeant Kemp gai o evidence ai to Detective Hall taking photographs oi tho scene of the accident. Thcso ho pioduced. Twenty-four yards from tho cros'iiig a driver could see a tram 185 yards kick. Hβ said that because they had an engino run back that distance This appeared in tho photograph. Seventy-two yaids from tho iails up tho Quairy road from the middle of the crossing a train could be seen 19 or 20 yards away fiom the crossing. Alfred Kmsella llarns, assistant traffic manager of railways, produced a plan showing tho approach to the crossing from out- ', side tho homo signal—a distance of about 10 chains This wa6 put in. John William Coatsworth, the enginedriver, said he loft Wingatui at 4 12 p.m. When approaching the Gordon road crossing lie sounded the -whistle 300 yards away, and again about 75 yards from tho crossing. \\hcn passing over tho crossing he felt a slight bump. He immediately applied tho brakes and brought tho train to a standstill, which was done in a little over jts own length. Ho had not the slightest idea of the cause of the bump until after ho pulled up. Tho train ivas travelling at 20 miles an hour approaching tho ciossing. After pulling up ho wont to the front ot tho engine, where ho saw some small pieces of wood—two or three—burning on the cowcatcher. The engine was slightly damaged. Ho -was sitting on the seat keeping a lookout on the right-hand <-ido when approaching tho crossing, and his mate, was himilarly placed on the other side. He had been a regular driver for five years, and had been driving altogether for eight years. To Mr lrwin: lie knew his mate was looking out, because he could see him. lie had a raugo of vision amounting to practically a half circle. Witness was loaning partlj out. His mate, from his attitude, jnust have been looking ahead ; ho would not 6wear absolutely that ho was keeping a look-out, but from his attitude ho was certainly looking ahead. There was nothing; particular to call his attention to tho fireman. Tho iiist whi-tle sounded was a fauly long one. There was a strict regulation, about pounding tho whistle 500 vards irom a crossing, but no regnlatioiywith regard to ■whistling at the crossmc Mr Widdowson: Would \oa say that the crossing is a dangeious one . Witness: It is not p.uliculailv dangerous. Mr Widdowson: There have been accidents there before, have there not , ' Witness: Since my accident I have heard that once before there was one. 1 have not at any time previously had even the semblance of an accident at lhe place. To Chief Detective Bishop: If the fireman was not in the position of looking out would you have noticed it , —Certainly. Aubrey Reginald Morris, guard on tho train, said that he distinctly hoard two whistles, tho first about the distant signal and tho other nearer to the crossing. Ho would ear that tho estimated speed of 20 miles previously given in evidence would be about the rate the train was going. Alfred Weston Kirton, stationmastcr at Mosgid, said ho was at home at the time of the accident. His house was a short distance north of tho crossing, and lie heard tho impact, causing him to look out. Ho saw a sheet of flame on the croesmg immediately the train passed, and ran over. On find'ng that people were hurt, he despatched a taxi cab for Dr Allan, and also sent a message to ring tip both Dr Allan and Dr Speddinjr, and also tho police. Witness was inside his house at tho tune tho train came up Ho did not hear tho fiist whistle tho train officials spoke of; tho only whistle ho heard was a loud, sharp one given near his house, within 150 yarcb of tho crossing. One got so used to train whistles that it would be easy not to notice them unless they were Woseby. John Armitt, signalman, said ho was looking out towards the tiain as it approached the ciossing. Tho driver gavo a first whistle, and then a second one when about 150 yards from the crossing. Tho load vvas clear at tho time, and there was no feign of a motor car approaching. Witness turned towards his desk, and immediately heard a no\se. and, on looking out, saw a flame at the crossing. lie knew then that an accident of some kind hadoccuriod, and immediately rar.g up the station ami informed tho ofhVals of the fact. Witness proceeded to relate how ho ran to tho scene and what ho saw

Re examined, ho said ho could soo up I lit* qiidiiv lo.ul as far as, tho bend. He ban no iign ot a motor car when tho second whistle bounded. Tho Uain coming end on niiiilo it niiposs bio tor him to (jive deimito ostiniatob as to tho distance liom tlio ctossing. Tlie ti<un was .signalled .is le.iMiifj \\ nivalin at 4 14, and the, accident ou uned lit 4.17. Allan Mitchell, of Moepiel, employed by Messrs Neill and Co, .said that ho was standing up tho ijiMiry ro.ul '•peak tip to Mr William Low jusl, befoi i> tho iircident occurred, lie saw th(> motor car coming lound tho bend, and bluHed hib bicyrlo to tho side of the road. Theie was no tiafhc at tho tune Witness would be ;i little more than i>o yards from the croeFinjr, and tho car parsed him, he would judge, at about 20 miles an hour. Aftei it pa.s>- d ho heai-d the train whsllo loud .md hhnip. Thr> cor continued straight on without slackening speed. Witness s.iiv tho collision. Tin" (ar was on tho eoutli side ol tho road. Theic was a borough noti<.o before tho crossing was re:i<'he<l that tho .speed limit was 10 miles an hour. To Mr It win: 'I he uir was about 10 yards past him when tho whistle went. Kdwaid Elliott, telegraph linesman. Mosgiel, who was standing on the footpath midway between the (losemg and Lhe water tank lit the time, said that his attention was drawn by tho motor oar corning down the road to the- closing. A moment later he hcdid the whistle of the engine, and looked back to the car, which would then be about 20 >nrds fiom the crossing 'J he car was travelling: at about 25 miles an hour, and when he ho.nd tho whistle ho looked round to seo the result, lie could see nothing else but that an "accident was going to occur, and saw no attempt on the part ot the car to slacken speed. Ho could see both car and train clearly. Ho thought the motor car was travelling- faster than tho tiain. The driver could not have turned off en cither of tho loads at tho speed at which he was goinff. William I'owan Low, elcrlc, .mother eyewitness, estimated tho speed of tho car at from 15 to 20 miles an hour. lie watched tho ear to the ciossing. If did not seem to slacken speed after parsing w'tnew and Mitchell. lie had measured the distance to the crossing from where they were, standing, and had found it to be apnroximately 100 vards The train whistled when the r.ir was 75 yaids fiom the <ro=smg. Before the collision witness connected the train with the car. lie almost anticipated an ace dent, but as far as he could seo tho driver of the ear continued on jus*- as he was doing Witness, In me where he did, had been accustomed to eeo trains passing over the crossing all his life. When the whistle went he could not seo tho train, but judged it to be about Iho stationmaster's house. When ho first saw the engine it was on tho crossing. The tram would b"> going faster than the motor ear. To Mr Widdovreon- Witness considered tho crossing to he dangeious. Tiains enme into Mosgiel at a good pace, and could not bo seen from the quarry road till ncir tbo crossing. Ho did not consider tho railway warning signals to bo sufficient. If a car wero travelling at 10 miles an hour, according to the borough by-law, ho thought it would be safe. John Garrott, Taieri County quarry manager, also an eve-witnese, 64- yards from the scene of the accident, said he had a full "victw of the crossing. Tho Irani whistled in the cutting, and then between witness and the si atiorunastcr's house it whistled ag.y'n. Witness, who was on tho \\ ingatui jo.id, saw tho motor car for only about two lengths. It dashed suddenly in iront of tho engine, and there was a loud explosion, followed by a burst of flame. Witness could not judge tho pace of tho car at all Tho tram and c\r came toad her m a flash. The Uain was passing dc the ueii.d speed To Mr Trwin- Jt was not possible that the second whistle was gi\en north of the =t ironmaster s house. It \..is given only tno ch.rns north of witness. l!o-( Gunn, iiee-isee oi tho Commercial Hotel, Green Island, said that the motor cai was at tho hotel about 4 o'clock Tho occupants all had a drink, wilncbs joining them, lie did not think they remained rnoie than h\e iniiiuto. They weio nil sober. According lo his reckoning, it would be about ii\e minutes past 4 when they left the hotel.

Chief-detective Bishop: Do \ou know Iho distance from the hotel to the lailuay crobbing ? Witness: The hotel is called halfway to Moigiel, and the disunro is therefore about tivo miles. A. AV. Kirton. recalled. =jkl that there was a Boiougli Council nonce 440 yards from tho crossing, notifung th.it speed was not to exceed 10 miles an hour. Tho first railway notice, "Stop, look out for tho engine." vras placed 410 yards from the railuay. The second stop notice >ias fcituated 33 yaids from thu crossing. lhe notices were on the quariy load, faun!? the traffic from Dunedin. The thiid stop notice was eight jaids from the fiist set of rails. 'J'ho distance—measured since lunch—from the scene of the accident to vheie Mitchell nas standing %\as yards, and from the corner of vitness's section to tho scene ot the accident 99 yards. Alexander Eiach, <>ab proprietor, Mobgiel, said he w.is standing at the back of the railwa\ station. His attention was attracted by tho noise of a motor car coming up the rise at the qu.irrj. 'J ho car was roaring a little, and, es witness car had just gone up tho .Saddle Hill load, and ho was expecting it, lie wondered how it came to be making so much noise. AA'hon the far came into full or 400 jaidi horn the crossing— v.itness saw that it was not his. 'J he car was travelling at 25 or 30 miles m hour. Witness watched it como right down. He did not think it slackened speed. Ho sau the train as the cur passed Low's house. It was right on tiie cattle stops. Ho said to the driver of anothei cab, "Good God, look at this!" 'ihen came ihr collision.

lo Mr lium: Uie car was travelling faster th.in tho tram Witness met about 20 ttajiis a day. lie did not think the ciossiiig dangcious. Ho know petitions had been got up, but ho had never been asked to Mgn I hum. A safj spend approaching the cioFsing- for a motor car diiver to pull up would bo about 12 miles an hour. Henry .Smith M'Nicol, motor inspector, Dunedin City C'oinoi.Uion, g_ue e\idcneo as to Mαv, lining a licensed driver prior to witness's appointment, two voais ago. Chier-detutne Bishop put a question regarding Maw's character as a, driver. Mr Irwin objected. He pointed out that such a question might apply in a criminal prosecution, but was- out of plaoe at an inquest, on which it had no UMiing. Mr Wuldowaon agreed, and tho witness was disnii&ied. John August Sidney Jacobs, fitter, Dunedin, said he met Andrew Laurie, Alex. Young, and Chas. Kinest Collint, (tho deceased) outside the Gland Hotel, and the} agicod to go for a motor ndo, Ijaurio h.ning to sec -i man at Mosgiel, and asking them to accompany him. 'ihey engaged Maw, and left about 3 30 p m., hist goTns? to tho lailuay station, wheie Maw dropped a friend, and then proceeding direct to Mosgiel over tho Caveisham Hill. One of tho puity—h<> did not know which one—wanted to see Ah Uunn, of tho Commercial Hotel, J Cjieen I-land, and thry all went to (ho aide dooi, met Mr Guiin, and went into a side loom, whoio thev had one dunk each. Fi\c minutes kitci they proceeded on to Mosgiel, M.uv driving .ill tho wa>. AH were I perfectly sober, in.luding Mav.', on whom I there v.eic no signs of drink whatever. He leekonod the a\orige speed fioni Duiiechn to bo 12 miles an hour. It did not seem to witnrss thai they weie travelling fu«t. They went about the same rate all tno way out, and he did not think theie was any increase going do\wi the quaiiy load lull. They had ananged lo pull up' at the hotel on the othei ado of tho crossing. When about 200 v<l rdb from th,> crossinj ho not'tcd some movoincnt of wagon, in the station yard. Witness y» the tiain horn town just before it stiuck tun car. He hoard no whistle, liiey wlio pasL the comer 'hop boforo he saw oi hoaid tho train. ]t seemed that they had just time to get over. Ho only lemcmlored coming up on to the line, l.ut did not rcmemlwr (ho impict. The next th'ng he rtmomboied was being picked up and assisted to the station. In answer to a qii<"f'on, witness said that Mau had no drink with them boforo leaving Dunedin. 'lhere was no fault to find witri his chiving. Jle sjemed to go about ttia usual iate. There was no jollification going on during the Inn—nothing boisteious, or singing, or <m\thing hke that. It n.is not in tho nature of a joy ride. To Mr liwin: Ho did not think Maw luid anj chance of pulling up from tho time he saw tho tiain. 'J ho only thing seemed to bo to try to gel over. Chief detective If M.iw was going at only 12 miles an horn, would he not have had time to turn into one of the bide roads? Witness: lie maj have had time; I am nn judge It is for (he driver to judge i>u<ii a matter for himself. Could not he ha\e =to'>pcd , ' I do not think he h.id a possible chain e. The inquest was adjourned till Wednesday morning, at Dunedin.