LEVEL CROSSING FATALITY.

Otago Witness, Issue 4014, 17 February 1931, Page 24

LEVEL CROSSING FATALITY.

TRAIN AND CAR COLLIDE. PORT CHALMERS RESIDENT KILLED. OAMARU,. February 12. A shocking fatality occurred at the Maheno railway crossing this morning when the 8 o’clock slow train from Oamaru ran into and completely wrecked a- car containing four adults and two children proceeding north on the Main South road. The driver of the car, Mr Edward Knewstubb, dockmaster, of Port Chalmers, received shocking injuries to his head and skull, to which he succumbed an hour after admission to the Oamaru Hospital. His wife suffered a broken thigh, and their daughter, Mrs Turner, of Hamner, was also injured. Both women are suffering from shock. Mr Turner and his two children had miraculous escapes, and were unhurt. With wonderful presence of mind the children were thrown clear of the line by the mother before the impact took place. Dr Orbell was soon on the scene of the accident, and gave the injured persons medical attention, and they were removed to the Oamaru Hospital by the St. John’s Ambulance.

The crossing is not considered to be a dangerous one, and is not equipped with any signalling device, as there is a clear view for some distance on either side of approaching trains. It is thought that the driver, who was proceeding to Christchurch, did not see the train till almost on the line, and in endeavouring to pull up stalled the engine on the rails, with the result that the locomotive struck the car broadside on, and completely wrecked it.

MRS KNEWSTUBB SUCCUMBS TO INJURIES.

CORONER’S INQUEST. OAMARU, February 13. Mrs Christina Knewstubb, wife of Mr Edward Knewstubb, dockmaster, of Port Chalmers, who was killed in a collision between a train and a car at the Maheno railway crossing yesterday morning, also succumbed to her injuries and shock at the Oamaru Public Hospital early this morning.

An inquest touching the deaths of the victims of the accident was held by the coroner (Mr W. H. Frith) this afternoon. Senior Sergeant Scott conducted the inquiry. Mr E. A. Newman represented the Railways Department. John Turner, engineer, residing at Hamner Springs, stated that he left Port Chalmers early on Thursday morning in a car driven by his father-in-law, Mr Edward Knewstubb, their destination being Hamner Springs. Mr Knewstubb was 71 years of age, and was dockmaster of Port Chalmers. Witness sat in the front seat of the car, alongside the driver, and in the rear seat there were his wife, Mrs Runa Turner, and her mother, Mrs Christina Matheson Knewstubb, and his two children, John, aged three years, and Betty, aged one year 10 months. At about 9 o’clock they were on the northern side of the Maheno bridge, travelling along the Main South road. They were about 60 yards on the south side of the railway crossing, when witness noticed the train approaching from the ‘north, and he spoke to the driver of the car. The driver acknowledged that he saw the train coming, though witness could not state the exact words. The car was travelling fairly slowly, not more than 15 miles an hour. He would say that the train was quite 500 yards from the crossing when witness saw it first. As far as he could remember, he thought the driver of the car intended to pull up. Then he seemed to change his mind, and the car went on at a very slow speed. After that the car got on the crossing, and the engine stalled and stopped. ‘ He did not think the car had enough way on

to carry it over the crossing, and it stopped directly over the line. He thought the driver attempted to start the engine again. Witness got out and opened the back door of the car, and was just pulling out Mrs Knewstubb, ■who had John, the boy, in her arms, when the locomotive hit the car. Witness was thrown down the bank, and when he got up he saw Mrs Knewstubb lying down the bank, and the boy was thrown further down. He found his wife and the little girl lying alongside the railway line, at the back of the car. Mr Knewstubb was lying in the back of the car, and was unconscious. His wife was also injured, and was still in the Oamaru Hospital. Witness and the two children were uninjured. The injured persons were attended by Dr Orbell, and Mr and Mrs Knewstubb were removed in the ambu lance to the hospital, Mrs Turner coming to Oamaru by train. She was met at the railway station by the ambulance, and removed to hospital. On approaching the crossing he did not hear the train’s whistle, though it was ..possible for the whistle to have been sounded and not to be noticed by him, as he was looking at the country. He had no idea of the speed of the train. After the impact the car was thrown on to the cattle stops on the western side. He

would not say how far the train went before pulling up, but the front carriage of the mixed train was opposite the car when it stopped. In his opinion the car engine stalled at the crossing, and there was not sufficient time to get it going. Mr Knewstubb drove the car all the way from Port Chalmers. He was a very steady and capable driver, and did not suffer any disability that would affect the driver of a motor vehicle. His hearing and eyesight were both good. Witness gave formal evidence of identification.

To Mr Newman: Witness said every assistance was given to them by the railway employees. They were very grateful for everything the engine driver, fireman, and the guard did. They were most attentive in every way. George Percy Bardsley, house surgeon at the Oamaru Public Hospital, stated that Mr and Mrs Knewstubb were admitted to the hospital at 9.45 a.m. on Thursday, both suffering from extensive injuries. Mr Knewstubb was semi-con-scious on admission. He was suffering from very severe shock, a dislocation of the right hip, injuries to the right leg, right arm, and the scalp. The usual treatment for shock was immediately applied, but without any effect, the patient dying an hour after his admission. Mrs Knewstubb was also in a . semi-con-scious condition on admission. She was suffering from severe shock, a fracture of the right thigh bone, and abrasions to the face. The treatment for shock was applied and her condition improved during the afternoon and early part of the evening, but later she rapidly became worse. Restorative measures were vigorously continued until the time of her decease at 0.30 a.m. The immediate cause of death was shock brought on by the severity of the injuries. James Joyce, engine driver employed on the New Zealand railways, stated that he was the driver of the 8 a.m. mixed train from Oamaru to Dunedin. When approaching the Mahenc bridge he was keeping a good lookout The train was travelling at about 25 or 26 miles an hour. When he came in view cf the crossing it was clear. The fireman saw the car approaching, and called out to him to stop. That would be about 100 yards from the -crossing. Witness then saw the car stop, the front wheels being over the line and the rear wheels between the two rails. Witness applied the emergency brakes, reversed the engine, and sanded the rails in an endeavour to stop the train. In spite of his efforts the distance was insufficient in which to pull the train up, and the locomotive struck the car just behind the driver’s seat, throwing it up against the cattle stop. The locomotive went about 50 yards after

it struck the car. The speed after the application of the brakes was considerably lessened by the time the impact took place. Just before the impact he saw the doors of the car thrown open, and saw one child thrown out of the car. After the train stopped witness rendered all the assistance he possibly could. Witness sounded the whistle about 200 yards from the crossing. The locomotive and train consisted of nine trucks, two carriages, and two vans, totalling 270 tons. The brakes were in good order. He had worked on the line for three years, and the crossing was not a dangerous one, but -was rather a good crossing. The road was lower than the railway, and there were no trees or anything to obstruct the view- of motorists.

To Mr Newman: The road level rose up to the railway line, a height of about six feet. There were only the old signals at the crossing, warning road traffic to “ Stop! Look out for the engine.” A car driver would have a clear view of a’-third of a mile of a train approaching the crossing. He sounded the whistle three times after leaving Teschemakers, within the distance of a mile of the crossing, and twice within the view of people approaching the crossing. Joseph Fairley Robson, fireman, employed on the New Zealand railways,

gave evidence corroborative of that of the previous witness. His impression was that the driver intended to stop 10 or 12 yards from the line. He then went on, and the engine stalled on the rails. But for stalling of the engine, the car would have got across the crossing in ample time. In returning his verdict, the coroner said it was clear that the car driver was decidedly at fault, and through his own act brought about the accident. It was very difficult when a person was dead and could not give evidence to frame words just to express his meaning, but it certainly must have been carelessness on the part of the driver when approaching the crossing. He (the coroner), in company with Senior Ser- : geant Scott, had been out to see the crossing, and by no stretch of the imagination could it be called dangerous' It was very regrettable indeed for two elderly people to lose their lives in such a manner, but he had to say that it was brought about by the car driver’s own act. He would say that the railway officials had done all they could possibly do, and no blame was attachable to either the engine driver or the fireman. He brought in a verdict accordingly, that death was due to shock caused by injuries received in the collision through the engine of the ear stalling on the line, adding that it was ’ a very regrettable affair, and he extended his sympathy to the relatives.

THE LAST RITES.

The funeral at Port Chalmers on Saturday afternoon of Mr and Mrs Knewstubb was largely attended. About 20 motor cars brought friends and acquaintances to Port Chalmers to mark their respect for the deceased by participating in the final rite. Local residents were present in large numbers. Mr and Mrs Knewstubb were born at Port Chalmers, and spent their lives there. The Rev. W. M. Grant, who married them 47 years ago, was amongst the mourners. When the hearse arrived from Oamaru it halted at the south end of George street while the procession was marshalled. Members of Court Robin Hood, wearing regalia, were allotted a prominent position. Mr Knewstubb having been an active member and officer of the Foresters’ Order for many years. The Old Identities’ Association, in which Mr Knewstubb held office at the time of his death, and of which Mrs Knewstubb was also a .member, was strongly represented, Mr J. M. Harland and Mr J. Farquharson, past presidents, and Mr A. R. Sutherland taking part. Major N. Dodds and Captain J. H. Crawford and other ex-Voluntecrs represented the old Port Chalmers Navals, of which company Mr Knewstubb was a lieutenant. Shipping companies and other organisations with which Mr Knewstubb had come into contact during his lengthy service as dockmaster for the Harbour

Board had representative officials at the funeral. Captain Coll M'Donald (chairman) and other members and officers >f the board were present, and also the Mayor (Mr W. G. Love) and the town clerk (Mr C. Blackman). Non-residents of Port Chalmers included Captain J. King, Captain R. Fraser, Captain D. Sharpe, Messrs E. Godfred, E. Isbister, W. Yeoman, J. Montgomery, J. Y. Love, .J. B. Shanks, T. Walker, J. E. Robertson, and J. Bonar. The pallbearers were fellow officers from the Harbour Board’s staff, viz., Captain J. M'Lean, Captain F. Duncan, Captain F. M'Donald, and Mr C. Smith There were also four pallbearers from the Old Identities’ Association and the Foresters’ Order.

The impressive graveside service wan conducted by the Rev. N. H. Finch, minister of the Congregational . Church at Port Chalmers. Mr L. F. Smith read the burial service of the Foresters’ Order.