STRUCK BY RAIL CAR

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24904, 18 June 1946, Page 4

STRUCK BY RAIL CAR

ELDERLY MAN’S DEATH

From Our Own Reporter GREYMOUTH, June 17. An elderly man, who was walking along the railway line, was killed when struck by the ChristcjiurchGreymouth rail-car near Rotomanu, on the Midland line, at 5.41 this morning Death was instantaneous as the result of injuries to the head and upper body. The man is believed to be Lawrence Stuart Evans, aged 76. widower, who nad for some time been living with his sister at 55 Kelly’s road, Mairehau, Christchurch. Uhtil two months ago he had lived at Howick, near Auckland. Considerable difficulty was experienced in establishing identification, as the police had to check a Post Office passbook and letters found in the man’s clothes. Evans had checked luggage through from Christchurch on Saturday. The rail-car. which was carrying a full complement of 60 passengers, had just rounded a bend about two miles east of Rotomanu when the driver noticed a man walking between the rails with his back to the rail-car. The rail-car’s horn was sounded, but the man did not turn and seemed unaware of the glow of the rail-car’s headlights Though the brakes were immediatelv applied, the rail-car was unable to stob in time to avoid striking the man. He was dead when reached by members of the rail-car’s crew. Though the accident occurred on a culvert or small bridge, it is stated that the man could easily have leapt from the line to safety, as the culvert bridges onlv a dry. shallow depression It is thought that he may have been deaf. The body was brought to Greymouth to-day. and it -is exoected that an inquest will be opened to-morrow morning for identification.