RAILWAY FATALITY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 45, Issue 13754, 5 February 1919, Page 5

RAILWAY FATALITY.

MAN KILLED BY SUDDEN STOPPAGE.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WAIMATE, Tuesday.

At an inquest on Charles McCrossan, evidence disclosed that ho was a passenger from Morven to Oamaru by a mixed train. After shunting had been completed at Glenavy, the train moved up to bring the cars opposite the platform. A van was on the southern end and the engine on the northern end of tho long train. The jerk was terrific. Two passengers were yarning in the guard's van. One, William Woods, was knocked ilat; the other, McCrossan, was leaning against tho iron jamb of the sliding door, which was shut with the jolt of the train, smashing McCrossan's head and causing instant death. Deceased's pipe and hat fell outside the train, but tho body fell ou the floor of the van. Woods was so dazed he could not tell what had happened. When deceased was picked up both his hands were still in his trousers pockets. The glass in tho end door of the van was broken by the impact. The engine-driver, John Patrick Leigh, stated that he had been driving for twelve years, and had never had any trouble. He reduced about 61b on getting the signal to stop, then made small reductions until the train stopped within seven or eight wagon lengths of the first reduction. Tho guard (Hughson) stated that the brake went on to the front of the train first, and on the rear of the train a few seconds later, causing" it to run up and bump. The verdict was that deceased was lulled by the sudden stoppage of the train, and that nobody in particular was Waivable at the present time.