MOTOR CAR ACCIDENT.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 22 January 1913, Page 3

MOTOR CAR ACCIDENT.

INQUEST ON ELLEN MAKY lir:: GORDON, An inquest was opened in the Ter» • minus Hotel at 9 o'clock, Wednesday, on the body of Ellen Mary Gordon,: who met her death in the motor accident at Kaukapakapa, before W, Ryall Fosbroke, Esq., J. P., and a jury of six: Messrs G. Graham (fore-: man), W. A. Laird, G.F.Willis, E. H. Cucksey, W, A Drinnan, and E. Flowers. \ After the jury had Viewed the body, Mr R. Holmes was called, and stated he was a schoolmaster residing at Havelock North. He had seen the' body of deceased, and identified her as Ellen Mary Gordon, aged 41 years, wife of Frank Lindsny Gordon, sheepfarmer, Clifton, Olive, H.B. She is a daughter of Thomas Tanner, sheepfarmer, Havelock North. He knew nothing about the accident, being only a visitor in Helensville. Dr. M. Meinhold, sworn, said : I am a duly qualified and registered practioner, residing at Helensville. T ■was notified about the accident at Kaukapakapa about noon yesterday, and immediately proceeded there by special train, and saw the people that were injured, and attended to them. • Mrs Gordon was dead on my arrival. , I have made an examination of deceased, and found a broken neck, which was the cause of death. Coming in contact with a post or a bank might have broken her neck. Broken neck was the sole cause of death, I know the crossing of the accident, it is a very dangerous one, especially as the incoming train conies down at a very fast speed, and there is a sudden. curve in the road just leading down to the crossing. It is impossible to see the crossing until you are about 20 yards from it. Had to be careful when going over the crossing. To the Jury: I did not notice there was anything to deaden the sound of ah approaching train. There was a sharp turn in the road. I never noticed the railway notice until I was on the crossing, you could not see it before. The notice, I consider, is not in a proper position to be of sufficient warning to an approaching party. There is nothing to indicate to a stranger that he is approaching .a railway crossing, I think a hedge goes up to the corner of the bend reaching the crossing. There are sufficient indications in the neighbourhood to show that they are approaching a railway line. Before they take the turning they could see the station As a stranger I would take special precaution. I think an approaching train could not be seen. Mr R. B. Holmes, recalled : I consider the driver of the car, Mr Dudley Hill,-a competent md careful driver. The party motored through from Napierj Tarawhera, Taupo, Rotorua, and Auckland. The other occupants of the car could also drive. To the Jury : I have never known any of the party to have an accident before. lam not aware of any defect .in the hearing of the driver. There was a fresh breeze blowing from the south-west which would deaden the sound of the whistle or the noise made by the train. At this stage Constable Driscoll said he was not prepared to go on with the evidence, and asked for an adjournment to get the evidence of the other ocoupants of the car. The inquest was adjourned till Monday, 20th inst., at 10 o'clock. The jury then proceeded to view the scene. MONDAY, 20xii JANUARY,! The inquest continued on Monday, 20th inst., the same jury being present. ,Five photographic views of the scene were laid on the table, being taken at the request of the jury. Alexander Russell Osbaldiston, farmer, residing at Kaukapakapa, stated: I saw a motor car passing through Kaukapakapa on the 14th inst. I met the car as I was coming out; of: Mr Dye's store, I was riding. It ■was a white car containing four pas- - sengers. A woman in the back seat spoke to me ; she said "Is this the road to Wellsford ?" I told her "Yes." They were going slowly at a walking pace, as I was walking my horse. Did not see them before they goti to Dye's. They went away from me at an ordinary speed for a motor car. I suppose at the rate of 20 mile an hour. 1 followed on behind them* [ heard a collision. I was about halfway le~ tween the store and the railway crossing! It was about a quarter of a mile from the crossing to where they spoke to me. I could not,have kept up with the car. I have seen a horse and trap going as fast as they were. He would consider the crossing dangerous to strangers coming into the district, because on both sides there are high hedges, and you would not.be abieYb see the railway line till within a few chains. On the right hand side the hedge goes right down to the i ail way fence. There is a dip appioaching the crossing, the rails being in the middle of the dip. I can't pay whether a peison. would see the rails or not; To the Jury: I met the party at Dye's store, acd for a little while I kept up to them. I quickened my pace after the motor left me. I was halfway when I heard the collision. I heard the train whistle once. It would be just above the crossing. They genefaUv blow two or three tirnea approaching that ciossing, but I only heard one; the wind was blowing the sound in the opposite direction. Did not hear the train itself. 1 never heard the crossing, was a dangerous one before. Hoard of one near approach to an accident. Mr Jones was -coming'in the opposite direction to 'whatthe car was going; he attiibuted it to the fact that he did not hear the whistle. It vras in: the daytime. They did not ask about railway line when asking the way to Wellsford. I under-

stood.they were_.allstrangers.. Did not think to warn them there was a crossing. : ;v 1; I :-: cbnsid er the crossing dangerous either way it is approached. The h6dge on: the right hand side was cut some time back so as " people could see the train approaching, I do not think the occupants of the car could see the train. The hedge has grown up again. They were on the metal road. You can't see the rails till you get over' the . dip. Persons mounted or in a ;trap could not see the rails till they got on top of ■ the dip. The sign ' Stop, look out for the engine ' could not be seen till people got to the "bend of the road. The bend is about 2 chains from the rails; People travelling at a fast pace.would be too late warned. The back of sign on opposite side of crossing can be seen about six chains back. He thought the back of the sign showing was sufficient warning to. a stranger. Cecil Osborne Lucas, acting engine driver on the railway, stated : I was driving the engine on Tuesday 14th, from Te.Hana to Helensville. to arrive at Helensville at 12 .-'clock. I was approaching Kaukapakapa at 1t.40. I whistled twice, one long whistle at about 400 yards, and a short one at about 250 jards. Coming into a stop station am always on the look out. When I was about 15 or 20 yards from the centre of the road, I saw a motor come round the hedge down the road on top of the dip, about 30 yards away. The train was travelling at about 10 to 12 miles an hour, They would see the engine before I could see them. The car was hidden by view of the hed^e. There were two hedges between the line and the road. When I first saw him, the driver of the car appeared to be turning the steering wheel with one hand, and attending to levers with the other. He appeared to be coming straight into the engine. The car struck the engine about the middle, and broke the eccentric rod and smashed the link. I had already the brakes set to stop at the station, and when I saw the car, gave the engine full emergency, and pulled the train up in its own length. I do not tnink it is more dangerous than a number of other crossings. I think it would be far safer if the hedges were cut. To the Jury : I am a qualified driver. I have been on that run for about sis months. The train was up to time on the date of accident. The regulation distance to whistle was 000 yards. I think a long whistle at that distance is sufficient warning without a second whistle. I could not see anything when approaching the crossing ; the lookout is handicapped, only being able to see ahead. A man on the road would see the cab of the engine before I could see him' The danger Would have been minimised if there had been no hedge. Never , heard of any previous accident at the crossing. The brake worked satisfactorily. The car broke the eccentric rod into 4 pieces, and must have been going at a good speed. I had the impression that the occupants of the car were taken^hy surprise. The driver had evidently tried to turn to run with me ; the right wheel of the car striking the engine.

Henry Wilfied Bennini, Guard on the Te Rana-Helensville railway, stated : On Tuesday, 14th, was coming into Kaukapakapa about 11.40, Was standing at the van door wheu train was approaching Kaukapakapa, looking towards the south-east, I saw dust about 50 yards from the train line, then I saw the motor car and occupants in the air. There was a b'g jar, and I was thrown down, and when I picked myself up, the van had pulled up opposite the occupants who were all in a heap adjacent to the cattle stop, the damaged car being about 15 feet back. I first turned over a male person, then a lady who was conscious, and then another lady who was dead. The deceased was on her head and neck in a depression adjacent to tho cattle stop. I turned the deceased round, and went and telephoned for the doctor. The first whistle was blown about 400 yards and the second about 250 yards away. There were 16 vehicles on the train. I think there are more dangerous crossings. I think they can see the engine about a chain away. I think there are sufficient indications that a railway line is in the vicinity.

< To the Jury : It is not possible to see vehicles or foot passengers along the road. A man riding or driving would see the train before a motorist. I am of opinion the motorists thought they could make the crossing before the train. The sign posts are all much alike on other branches. It was the use of the emergency brake that threw me down. At this stage the inquest was adjourned ti3l Monday 27th, at 10.30 a.m.