ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4761, 29 September 1893, Page 1

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

♦ Our Timaru correspondent says :— A resident near tbe Pareora Eailway Bridge has thrown some fresh light on the fatal accident which happened there on Wednesday evening. He states that the deceased, when overtaken by the train, was on the light approach to the bridge, where it is constructed of short spans without girders, and wherp ttore iB no plank, so that any person crossing must step from sleeper to sleeper. Under these circumstances the man could not save himself by going to the side, there being no room, and as there is water running under that portion he would not jump off if he thought he could reach the girders before the train overtook him. The probability is that the man did think he could do so, but he was overtaken just before he reached the girders, and was then thrown forward and fell clear of the water. There is a good deal of water in the river, and as ther. is no traffic bridge nearer the main road than one nine or ten mile 3 up, the railway bridge is very often used by swaggers, and must be used when the river is high. The old traffic bridge still stands in the riverbed, but the streams have deserted it. It iB stated tbat a moderate expenditure of labour would divert tho main stream under the larger section of the bridge, and perhaps the late fatality may lead to something being done in that direction. An inquest was held at Lyttelton ye&tsrday afternoon before Mr E. Beetham, Coroner, and a jury of whom Mr John Dempaie was chosen foreman, touching the death of John Loader. After a short deliberation tho jury returned a verdict of '•' Accidentally drowned."