DANGEROUS RAILWAY CROSSING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2896, 15 September 1909, Page 25

DANGEROUS RAILWAY CROSSING.

FARMER KILLED INS'TANx TANEOUSLY CHRISTCHURCH, September 11. " Shortly .before 5 o'clock this evening an* elderly man. was killed on the Sockburn railway crossing; by the engine of the first" express, from the south. II appears that on- approaching Sockburn the engine-driver sounded his" whistle as usual to warn anyone in the vicinity of the crossing. The road at this point crosses the line at an acute angle making it difficult for an approaching -train to be'seen from the road or an approaching vehicle from the railway. When the train was within a fes? yards of the crossing a gig, driven by an elderly man, suddenly appeared, and nothing could b« done to avert an accident. The locomotive crashed into the gig, smashing it into matchwood. The horse was jubt clear of the line,' but was thrown down and considerably knocked about. The occupant of the vehicle was struck with terrific force on th« head and hurled across on to the next line of rails. When picked up he was bleeding from, the nose and mouth and.had sustained such serious injuries to hfe hes^d th4t death evidently had -been instantaneous.' , The train was profaijprtly. pt4ledfwplj.-th^ cusMpne- of ttar glf'-beis^ carried aHong^in front of 4 ttiS" cowcatcher, and the body of the unfortunate man placed in the van and brought! on to Christchurch, where if was taken) to the Morgue. Deceased appeared to be a farmer of about 60 years, of age. Search of his clothing resulted in the finding of a Savings Bank deposit book, bearing the name of John. M'Tavish