INQUEST

Southland Times, Issue 18822, 15 May 1920, Page 2

INQUEST

LEVEL CROSSING FATALITY. The adjourned inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mavis Lorraine Green who was killed at the Edendale railway crossing on May 5, was continued before the Coroner, Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M., yesterday. Senior-Sergeant Eccles conducted the inquiry on behalf of the police. John Milne, a railway engine-driver, stated that he was driving the InvercargillClinton train on the morning of May 5. They arrived at Edendale at about 11.45 a.m., and the engine was uncoupled, going across to the tanks for water. After taking water he waited a moment or two to allow the branch engine to clear the main line. The tank was about 60 yards from the crossing. After ascertaining that everything was clear he blew the whistle and hacked down to link up again, running about six miles an hour. He was keeping a sharp look-out on his side leaning out of the cab window on the right-hand side. He had a clear view of the crossing on his side, and could see no one at or near the crossing on that side. When about half way over the crossing he felt a slight bump well forward on the engine. His view of the left-hand side was obstructed for a distance of about 40 yards by the tender. The bump was slight, and was followed by another which caused him to pull up. He walked across the cab to ascertain the cause of the trouble. Looking along the engine towards the crossing he saw the child lying on the outside of the left rail. He examined the wheels and found little indication of the accident, only two evidences, one on the left hand break hanger and one on the cow-catcher. The body had been rolled clear of the rails by the cowcatcher. He pulled up the engine within 15ft of the child. The fireman was in the cab at the time, and when glanced at by witness was looking towards the crossing. He only blew the whistle when leaving the tank and on the morning of the accident his train was late. The EdendaloWyndham train was in the yard when his train arrived. So far as he was aware no one was specially detailed to look after the crossing except when shunting; then the porter had to look after the points, which were at the crossing. The crossing was a busy one, as it practically divided the township. He was of the opinion that an overhead crossing would reduce risks. The Wyndham-Edendale engine was-on the main line a minute before he left the tank, and shunted into the yard. He had seen children taking great risks at level crossings, but he could not give any idea of how the accident occurred. There was a bank at the crossing that might have obstructed the view of a small child. Archibald Thom, a fireman, who accompanied Milne on the run, corroborated the latter’s evidence, and stated further that when approaching the crossing he looked out of the cab window, and everything was clear on the left side. He did not see the child, and never knew' anything was wrong until he felt the bump when traversing the crossing. He turned ri«-md when approaching the crossing to turn off the injector, and was of the opinion that the child had attempted to cross while his attention was drawn to the injector. It waa his first trip over the line since rejoining the service after the war. The Coroner returned a verdict that Mavis Lorraine Green was accidentally killed at Edendale on May 5 at a level crossing. He stated that he would consider the issuing of a rider and would deliver it within the next few days.