CROSSING FATALITY

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3935, 27 April 1929, Page 1

CROSSING FATALITY

VERDICT AT INQUEST. TRAM OFFICIALS. EXONERATED. Adjourned from Sunday last, the Coroner’s inquiry into the deaths of My. J. C. Reiter and Mr. Henry Tremewan, iwho were killed at Shannon on Saturday morning- last as the result of a collision between the Main Trunk express and a .mo-tor-lorry of which they were the occupants, was concluded at Shannon on Wednesday morning. After hearing, the evidence of the driver, fireman and guard on the train, the Coroner, Mr. A. Fraser, returned a verdict that both deceased met their deaths as the result of a collision between the lorry and'the express, no blame being attachable to the train offileials. The first witness called was Frederie'k: Thomas Tietjens, who slated that he was guard in charge of the Main Trunk express which is timed to pass through 'Shannon at 10.5 a.m. On April 20 the train was running to time-talble. The usual conditions were (Complied with when approaching the station and a whistle was acknowledged from the platform. The train went through Shannon without stopping, travelling at the usual speed of 45 miles per hour. The first that he knew of anything being wrong was the application of the brakes which were applied prior to reaiching the Vance Street crossing, and the train stopped about two carriage lengths south of the crossing. 'On leaving the train witness noticed that a collision had taken place between a motor lorry and the train, and also that one man had been killed and another seriously injured. Witness stated that he sent the attendant through the train to see if a doctor was available. There being no doctor and Levin being the nearest place that he could get medical attention, the injured mian was placed on a stretcher in the guard’s van and the train went on to that place. A doctor met the train on arrival at Levin and stated that Tremewan was dead. He was unconscious throughout the journey. Everything possible was done to make him comfortable.

Albert Ernest .Meaehem, driver of the express; stated that when the train was approaching the Shannon railway station a long and loud whistle was given for each of the two crossings. When the last whistle was given, lie noticed a lorry coming towards the railway line and he hung on to the whistle longer than usual. The lorry was then .approaching frolm the western side about two chains . from the crossing. (When first 'seen the lorry was not going very fast and it slowed up, giving every indication that it would stop, but it suddenly wejjt .forward again. Witness applied the emergency bralke to save a collision and the brakes acted promptly. The speed when the brakes were applied was 45 miles an hour. The engine struck the lorry in the middle and threw it into the cattle stops. After Stopping the train, witness returned to the scene of the accident and found one man dead and the other seriously injured. After the injured man had been placed in the guard’s van the train proceeded to Levin. By the lorry slowing up the occupants gave every indication that they had seen the train. Similar evidence was also given by James Kirkland Geddes, fireman on the express. This concluded the evidence and the Coroner then returned the verdict set out above.