LEVEL CROSSING FATALITY

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15863, 7 July 1919, Page 5

LEVEL CROSSING FATALITY

DEATH OF MR. I.VKPEN. The adjourned inquest into the rfrcnxnstaneo surrounding the death of Mr James Inkpen. who was knocked down at Pitt Street railway crossing on June was concluded this morning bv the Coroner. Mr Wyveru Wilson, S.M. Alfred Moosman said that he was driving the engine of the train from Wan ganni to Aratnoho on the afternoon of the 2Sth of June. The train had stopped at St. John's Station, and after leaving witness gave the warning whistle when about 51)0 yards a way from Pitt Street crossing. Immediately after this witness saw a man crossing London Street at Pitt Street intersection coming towards the 1 in- . He quickened his steps after the whistle bad blown. There were some children standing close to the crossing. Witness thought the man was going to warn the children, but he took no notice of them, so witness blew the whistle ajgain. The train was then about ten yards from the crossing. The man did not seem to take B ny notice, and appeared to step right in "front of the engine. Witness immediately applied the Westinghouse brake" and reversed the engine. The train palled tip within a car-length. Witness noticed the man lying on the ground, and went hark for him, put faim on the train and took inn: to Aramoho. where he was left in < barge pf the guard, and arrangements v..--re promotly made for his admh'ton to the hosoital. Roy "Smith, aged nine years, said that he was playing with some children near Pitt Street railway crossing. He noticed the deceased walking quickly towards the crossing. When be reached the rails he looked in ihs direction of the train, which was then quite close, and then increased his pace. Witness heard the train whistle, and thought that deceased heard it also. Another child, Eileen Kirkness, said that she saw the deceased srop at the corner to see how far the train was away. He began to walk Blowly and then commenced to run across the line. His Worship remarked that it was

an unfortunate occurrence. The cte- *• ceased, seemed to have thought ho M was ;l little more active than he really was. and evidently thought he • could cross the line before the train reached the ■ crossing. The driver had evidently taken all the proper precautions. He gave a warning whistle, but the deceased went on. The coroner found that death was doc to shock arising from injuries received hy being knocked down by the train at Pitt Street crossing. He further found that no blame was 3 attachable to anybody. iN ~