ANOTHER BRIDGE DISASTER.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2026, 21 August 1880, Page 3

ANOTHER BRIDGE DISASTER.

A railway bridge which spans the river Wye, on tho Hereford, Hay, and Brecon Railway, between Hay and Brecon, gave way on the night of June 17th as a luggage train was crossing it, and tho train was precipitated into the water. The engine driver wbb killed on the spot, and tho Btoker received such serious injuries that it is thought ho cannot recover. The guard also had his arm broken. The bridge consisted of three arches, and was about forty feet long and twenty high. Tho river had been greatly swollen by the late continuous rains. Just before the accident a passenger train consisting of two engines and twentyfour well-filled carriages went ovor the bridge. An enquiry into the cause, of the disaster was held at Hereford, when it appeared from the evidence that the bridge was periodically examined and no flaw found in it. Colonel Rich BBid he thought the fall of the bridge had been caused by the flood water of the Llangoli River undermining the wing and abutmont wall, and probably also getting at the back of it. The accident was entirely due to the exceptional character of the flood. The witness was of opinion that proper supervision aud care had been exercised by the officials having charge of the bridge, There was no indication of structural defect, and he believed the bridge to be aB sound two hours before the accident as it had been when it was built. The jury returned a verdict that the death of George Parker, tho engine-driver, was purely accidental, and that no blame was attributable to the railway officials.