STRUCK BY TRAIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26781, 26 May 1948, Page 2

STRUCK BY TRAIN

FATALITY AT KENSINGTON "Apparently this man was trespassing on railway property when he was struck and, unfortunately, was the author of his own misfortune," said Mr Willis, at the conclusion of the inquest into the death of Albert Robert Summerell, a retired bootmaker, aged 82. Summerell died on April 30 from injuries suffered when he was struck by the Dunedin-Mosgiel train in the vicinity of Kensington station. The police wdre represented by Sergeant C. J. Matheson. ~ , Dr E. F. D’Ath, professor of pathology at the Otago Medical School, said he had performed a post-mortem examination. His opinion was that death was due to shock following extensive internal injuries, including a fractured spine and a rupture of the aorta. Frederick William Hobcraft said he was driving the engine on the Dunedin-IMos-giel train which left the Dunedin station at 7.35 p.m. on April 30. As the engine approacned the Kensington station, witr.ess saw a man walking between the lines towards the station. The engine was then about 180 feet away. Hobcraft said he sounded the whistle, after which the man appeared to veer towards the track. Replying to the. coroner, witness said that the deceased was trespassing on railway property. , . John Arthur Taylor said he was awaiting the train on the Kensington station when he noticed a person walking along the lines. Witness then heard the whistle and the train stopped. The place where the accident happened was very dark. The coroner’s verdict was that Summerell died on April 30 from shock following injuries which he received when he was struck by the Dunedin-Mosgiel train in the vicinity of the Kensington railway station.