Untitled

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21994, 1 July 1933, Page 12

DEATH OF FOUR MOTORISTS EVIDENCE AT INQUEST. (Peb United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June SO. An inquest was held to-day in connection with the level crossing accident in which four people lost their lives at Porirua on May 21. The evidence showed that the car attempted to cross the line when the red signals were flashing. The driver, Stanley Lincoln, and the only surviving adult passenger, Harry Holroyd, both-said that they remembered nothing about the accident. * Raymond Rankine, who was driving a car from Wellington to Ohau on the night of the accident, said that as he approached the railway crossing at Porirua he saw a warning signal flashing and pulled up about 30 feet from the crossing. Before he stopped he noticed a train standing at the station and another one approaching from the north. “ A car that was following me,” said witness, “ went straight past me as I stopped at a speed of approximately 25 miles per hour. I was not altogether surprised when the cay passed as I thought it would stop in front of me. It went straight on to the crossing in front of the south-bound train and was struck by it. The car appeared to be tossed up into the air and afterwards hit the stationary engine. 1 believe the south-bound trtpn struck it again and knocked it against the stationary 'train a second time.” Witness said he. saw headlights on the opposite aide of the line but he could not be sure if they had pulled up or were travelling slowly. Cross-examined by Mr Prendeville, witness said he did not hear the whistle of the approaching train, but he might have been prevented from doing so by the noise of the engine of his car. •The coroner said he would give his finding next week.