LEVEL CROSSING FATALITY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18584, 3 June 1930, Page 8

LEVEL CROSSING FATALITY.

INQUEST ON VICTIMS OPENED. DRIVER COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. By Telegraph—Press As-eVation. WHANG AREI, June 2. The inquest regarding the McLeod's flat level crossing tragedy on the evening of April 5, when a train and ’bus collided, resulting in six deaths of the ’bus passengers, opened to-day. Noel Herbert Wilkinson, driver of the ’bus, was charged with negligently driving the ’bus thereby causing six deaths. The evidence of the inquest and tne case against Wilkinson was taken simultaneously. The facts elicited were mainly those published at the time of the accident. Robert Menzies, assistant engineer of the Public Works Department, Whangarei, stated that he took measurements for the purpose of preparing a plan of the road and the railway, showing the position of the train wreckage and different views of visibility. Standing on the crossing facing Whangarei, a north-bound train was visible for 45 chains 65 links. A ’bus driver travelling from Hikurangi, at a point 5.45 chains from the crossing had a vision of 41 chains, and five chains from the crossing had visibility of 36 chains. Two chains from the crossing there was visibility of 24.40 chains. At the crossing the road was 20 feet wide. Coming from Hikurangi, there was a rise to the crossing for li chains. He should say that a ’bus travelling at a reasonable speed, provided the train was seen, could pull up. Any person keeping a sharp look-out could not avoid seeing the train in daylight. At a later date, witness went to the scene of the accident by night, and had an i opportunity of seeing a train approaching the crossing from the south. He stood five chains on the Hikurangi side of the crossing, and observed the train 41 chains from the crossing. He observed both the bright headlight and the side-light from the guard’s van. It was moonlight, but slightly overcast and raining. Through his wet wihdscreen, he observed the oncoming train without any difficulty. Speaking as a motorist who had driven over the crossing for many years, witness considered it to be safe from I either approach. I Eileen Isabella Trotter, of 46, Surrey I Street, Ponsonby. stated tha she was ion holiday at Hikurangi on April 5, | and joined the ’bus at Hikurangi, at 6.20 p.m., to go to the pictures at Whangarei. Mr Noel Wilkinson was driving. When they were at Hikurangi, a drizzle had started. There were eleven people in the ’bus, most of them known to her by name. No oue sat with the driver. Witness could see nothing through the window of the ’bus, owing to the darkness. Witness was not keeping a look-out, but was talking. She saw no lights, and heard no whistle or anything to cause her to think that a train was coming. The first thing she saw was the headlight of the engine right above her. So far as witness knew, she was the first in the ’bus to see the train, and she called out “Noel” just as the ’bus was struck. Nobody spoke before witness did, but witness did not know whether her voice was actually heard, or was stiflled. Witness saw no lights other than the headlight of the engine. She had a recollection of being hurled through the air, then rolled down a bank. She crawled to where she saw the back axle of the ’bus, and did not lose consciousness. Witness was sure no one in the ’bus saw the ti;ain until the moment before. She noticed nothing unusual about the speed, and did not notice if the ’bus slowed down, or otherwise. Witness was talking in the ’bus, but did not notice any sky-’ larking among the boys at the back. The driver did not hold a conversation with anyone after- they all got into the ’bus. Cross-examined, witness said the words: “I saw the train when we were almost on the crossing,” contained in her original statement to the police, were incorrect. Witness now stated that they were actually on the crossing when witness called “Noel.” The light was straight above her at the time. Witness thought the ’bus was running into the train, but she now knew that the train ran into the ’bus. Witness stated that when they got into ho ’bus, the vehicle was lighted, but she did not remember whether the lights were left on. Arthur Jos. Wilkinson, foreman for the Norhtern Motor Bus Company, said Jhat Noel Wilkinson was a driver employed by the Company, and was now 19 years of age. Noel was in his usual state of health when witness saw him at the racecourse, 20 minutes before he left for Hikurangi. Noel never took alcoholic liquor, and had had none on the day in question. Charles Storey, guard of the train, described the efforts to succour the victims. With the driver, he examined the engine’s headlight after the accident. It was burning brightly. There was a straight run after coming round the bend to McLeod’s Flat crossing. The train was allowed to travel 30 miles per hour, but would not be travelling at that speed. Witness consid- ! ered the crossing comparatively safe. After witness got out of the train, he observed the lights of carriages as he walked along the train. Constable Farrell, of Kawakawa, who was on the train, saw after the accident that the headlight of the engine was burning and the carriages lighted. Arthur Manning, driver of the train, said that after rounding the bend to McLeod’s crossing, and when about three parts down the straight, witness noticed two lights approaching from the direction of Hikurangi. A long blast of the whistle was given, but no attempt was made to pull up the approaching vehicle. He then saw it was a ’bus, which was travelling at 35 to 40 miles per hour. When witness hit it, the train was doing 25 to 30 miles per hour. He was watching the approach of the bus through a cab window. When he was about 20 yards off, he could distinguish the ’bus, as he had a side view. Witness immediately applied the emergency brakes, cut off the steam, and turned on the sand, when he saw that the ’bus was going to cross in front of him. That was about 10 yards before the crossing. The front of the engine hit the ’bus between the front and back wheels. I The ’bus was lifted in the air, and the : engine hit it a second time. The ’bus ' finally came to rest on the left-hand I side of the engine. The train pulled up in its own length. The headlight could easily be seen a mile on the straight run.

Douglas Scott, fireman, said that when approaching the crossing, he heard a long blast of the whistle, and felt the application of the emergency brakes. When he and the driver ran back to the scene of the wreckage, he met Noel Wilkinson, who said: “For God’s sake don’t say I was driving the ’bus.” He was bareheaded, and appeared to be suffering from shock. William McEwan, who was motoring home from the races, said he noticed the train when he was approaching the crossing. He saw lights, and thought he heard a whistle, He considered the crossing to be dangerous. Mrs McEwan deposed that she did no thear the whistle, but saw the train lights, which were shining brightly. Thomas George Martin, aged 16, said that the ’bus, which was lighted,

did not stop till the collision occurred. Two of the boys who were killed were skylarking, and were leaving their seats. Another was fooling with Trevor Doel. He did not notice the driver try to put on the brake. Sergeant CfGrady corroborated Mr Menzies’ statements as to visibility on the night when the test was made. Peter Jack, surfaceman, said that he heard a whistle, and said that the train was lighted when it passed his cottage, seven chains from the crossing. The Coroner found that the six deceased met their deaths as a result of a collision between a train and a ’bus, driven by Noel Wilkinson. Wilkinson was committed for trial on a charge of negligent driving, thereby causing deaths.