CAULFIELD SMASH INQUIRY FINISHES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17882, 25 June 1926, Page 15

CAULFIELD SMASH INQUIRY FINISHES.

TWO MEN TO STAND TRIAL FOR MANSLAUGHTER. By Telegra.ph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Association. MELBOURNE, June 24. At the Caulfield train smash inquest, a statement by the driver of the Oakleigh train, taken just after the accident, was read. He said that the brakes on the train acted reasonably. When the train approached the home signal the top left hand arm was off and it was showing green. It was too dark to see the arm, but he saw the light. Approaching Caulfield a driver has a fair and reasonable view of all fixed signals. When passing the home signal the train was travelling twenty to twenty-five miles per hour. The weather was dull and there was a slight mist. He proceeded as usual right up to Caulfield, after passing well inside the home signal. Going round the curve he noticed a red light ahead. He thought that it was on another line. Immediately afterwards he saw' another red tail light and became suspicious. He applied the brakes with emergency force. The brakes replied, but he hit the rear car of the train when going about three to four miles per hour. James Hargreaves, guard on the Oakleigh train, in a statement, said that when he passed the home signal it appeared to be showing a green light, but after the impact when he alighted and placed detonators on the track behind to prevent a further collision, the home signal showed “ danger.” Signalman Wright gave evidence that he tested all the signals on the afternoon of the accident and all were in good order. He saw’ the Oakleigh train approaching the home signal, which w*as at “ danger.” When the train had passed the signal he remarked to the recorder that the train had passed the “ danger ” signal and he ran to the window, waving a red lamp. He watched the train until the collision. The Coroner committed Milvain and Hargreaves for trial on the charge of manslaughter.