BUNNYTHORPE CROSSING FATALITY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 223, 14 June 1919, Page 10

BUNNYTHORPE CROSSING FATALITY

TCEED OP AN AUTOMATIC ALARM BELL. Bl Teleerauh—Press Amociatlon. ■ , Palmerston North, June 13-. ■ When returning a verdict ol L accidental HeatU-at- tho-inquest on ~1110- body pf ! .Teatp Pedersen; aged 10 years, who was TU,n ; 'into ; 6ri : a',JGvel crossing by the New Plyhiouth-Welliiigtqii express <-n May 27, jHtr Coroner; Mr. Page,'-S.M., stated that':,'thd :(faiii was evidently travelling through l the crossing. at a. high rate of 'speed;' Tho whistle was properly, souiided,'but on account of an aclverse wind the Round of the. whistle of the • ap- : 'proachiiig train was not so imliceable as it might have been under other eondi'tions.;; It was clear that if the children in theXtrap had taken proper precautions theyjwould havo seen the'train'approaching'aftl avort6<lj the'tragic 'occurreiicc/ ■ ! The Coroner'added the following '.rider:. :"Whatever.may be the legal position of the .Railway -Department, I think in the public interest there should be'at-cross-ings of this nature.an automatic alarm Tiell to give warning- ; of the approach of. trains.. . The crossing is the centre of « Rinall township, and is used a good deal, end some trains pass over it at great epeed. If such a bell had been instiiHed |tho child would not have lost her life. 'Although an adult in possession of his normal faculties would;probably not be ( caiight at this crossing, it imist be remembered that the crossing is' used by 'children who may be. thoughtless, also e! hers,-elderly people,' for instance, iwhose .faculties may not i.be keen."