CHRISTCHURCH TRAM FATALITY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 221, 12 June 1919, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH TRAM FATALITY

FINDING OF THE CORONER

AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PRACTICE

' Br Telenraph-Press Association. : Christchurch, Juno 11. The adjourned inquiry into the death rf William S. Brunton, the- victim of the tramway accident at Heathcote on May 15, was. resumed to-day. Tho only evidence called was as to the cause of death. ••■.'••' The finding of th<j coroner, Mr. S. G. Jl'Carthy, was: "1 find that deceased died on May 17 by reason of haomorrhnge, due to laceration of the brain tind fracture of the ekull, being injuries inflicted by a trailer attached to the 4.10 p.m. tramcar from Sumner.to Christchurch, in. which, on May Ja, the deceased was travelling, having jumped the points between Heathcote Bridge and. the llcatlicote Arms Hotel, whereby the snid trailer became derailed and was overturned." . ... . The following riders were added to the ■verdict:— , ■ . ■-. .. :■ —.■:.". , (1) The evidence as to, the speed at which the train was .travelling is inconclusive, but the fact that the .trailer jumped Bie points and -after overturning was dragged on it<3 v side for a distance of 17 feet is .indicative of excessive speed. (2) The train consisted of a motor andtwo trailers, each with an upper deck, and ■ was controlled by a motorman and one conductor. ' -.. ,-. ■•'..' (3) The train was built to. sent -13G paseengers. whereas at the time of th<: accident it was carrying about 250 passengers. AH the passages, including the stairs leading to the upper flecks, were blocked. There were about 90 passengers on the overturned trailer, of whom 51, including the deceased, were injured, most of the injuries being slight., (4) The conductor was in the middle vehicle when the hindmost trailer became derailed. Had there bean a conductor in the derailed car.at the'time'of its /derailment the death"of the deceased or the. injuries to the 'other' passengers might have been averted. As it was,, valuable moments elapsed before the conductor, became aware: of.". the derailment,, and when that knowledge reached him the-car in .which; he was. for. the , time being travelling ,wa.s so overcrowded lhat he could not reach the buzzer, , and had to rely on 'his whistle.-'which the motorman did not;hear.;.The practice of. running an overcrowded tr/un,-,'con-sisting as this one. did, of a'motor and two. .upper-deck , trailers controlled by .only ono .conductor, albeit'it is authorised oni' the Sum per liiio by the Tramway. Board under-'an Ordex-in-Cquncil, i 3 an. extremely dangerous '.one. (6) That some provision should be made limiting the number of passengers , which each tram vehMe can lawfully carry. '•-