RAILWAY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4510, 3 January 1923, Page 2

RAILWAY

YOUNG MAN KILLED AT PAEROA. THROWN UNDER THE WHEELS). A young man named R. Thompson, aged about 18 years, was a passenger on a special train going from Thames to Te Aroha on Monday morning. The .train stopped tp take water before pulling in at Paeroa station, and it appears that the young man got off to buy some lollies, leaving nis mother, two sisters, and a brother in the cajrriage. On going out to the platform the train was travelling at .a fast r,ate of speed, and thinking it was npt stopping he gave chase. He succeeded in catching hpld of the handrail of one of the carriages, and was swung round. He got hold of the rail of another carriage, and this time he struck the tablet post, with the result that he was thrown under the wheels. After being dragged for some distance he was thrown clear of the line. Deceased was fearfully mangled. One foot was severed near the ankle. His head, above the eye and brpws, was cut off and his brains were scattered in all directions. The father of deceased is employed by the Lands Department at Kerepeehi. Deceased was in the Survey Department, at the same place.

THE INQUEST. An inquest on the body was held yesterday morning before Mr W. M. Wallnutt. The deceased father, Mr R. W. Thompson, identified the body as that of his son. P. Carthy, Paeroa .BoVoiigh employee, swbrn, said that at the time of the accident he was on the railway platform near the bookstall, and noticed a special train from Thames to Te Aroha. After it passed he noticed a man or boy make a grab, at the rail of a carriage. He missed the first and tried to get hold of a rail on the second carriage, but again missed, and after, he got past the tablet post witness saw no more of him, as. he seemed tp disappear. Deceased was the. Only person, he saw trying to get on the train. He did not hear anyone call out to deceased. A person could calf out and he would not hear. him. . Matthew Crosby in his evidence said that he was on the railway plat-: form and was going to travel by -the special to Te Aroha. He was walking along towards the end of the platform. As the train was passing, it was going at a moderate speed. Deceased ran past him sideways, watching an opportunity to catch a rail. He hit the tablet post with his left shoulder and fell under the carriage.

To the Coroner witnesls said he was about 30 or 40 yards ,away when he heard the shunter call out “keep back,” The shunter was on the train when he called out, and witness ceased to follow, but the deceased kept on.

James Rowe, stationmaster, Paeroa, said" he was on duty at the station. When .the special came in be was standing at the north, end of the platform, a little way from the bookstall. When the train passed it was going at a moderate speed. The first thing he saw was, a. young man making an attempt to board the train half-way between the end of the platform and -the tablet exchanger. He appeared to fail in his’ first attempt, and made another attempt. In doing so heVell at the exchanger post and rolled underneath the train.

To the Coroner : There was no other person in the vicinity where he was standing. The deceased evidently thought the train was moving put. Aftor the accident the train pulled up for a minute or two. William Redfern, shunter, stationed at Paeroa, said that on the arrival of the special he was standing in the yard and signalled to stop to take water. After signalling to stop he stepped on to the engine for the purpose of running the train up and bringing it back again to dock. At the end of the platform there t were two men running. One he knew was M. Crosby; the other was a stranger. He called out “keep back, we are coming back.” Crosby stopped, but the other still kept running pn. Half way between the platform and signal box he attempted to get on the car, but was bumped clear away flrpm the train. When he gained his balance he attempted the same again, and was once more thrown clear. After the second attempt he caught hold of a carriage and appeared to go in between it and the next one. He then bumped against the tablet post .and swerved underneath the carriage. Witness immediately gave the signal to stop.

John Samuels, signalman, gave evidence on lines similar to that of the previous witnesses.

Constable McClinchy, sworn, said/ that shortly after the accident he arrived on the scene and with the assistance of the railway employees carried the deceased to the morgue. On examination of the body he founa that the head was torn off from the back of the neck to above the eyes, and one leg wa's torn a,way about an inch above the ankle. He searched the deceased and found a 10s note, a few packets of cigarettes, and a firstclass railway ticket from Wharepoa to Te Arolia.

After hearing the evidence the Coroner returned the following verdict: “That deceased was accidentally killed at the Paeroa railway station on January 1, 1923, whilst endeavouring to board a moving train, no blame being attachable to any of the train officials.”

Mr Thompson after identifying his sop’s body was top upset to be present at the inquest. After the clpse of the mqti’ry. however, '.e came inside and exoncra cd the railway officials from all blame in connection wtih the unfcr'mate accident.