CROSSING SMASH

Southland Times, Issue 21099, 3 June 1930, Page 8

CROSSING SMASH

SIX DEATHS

INQUEST INTO TRAGEDY

BUS DRIVER COMMITTED FOR TRIAL(Per United Tress Association.) Whangarei, June 2. Th'e inquest on the McLeod Flat level crossing tragedy on the evening of April 5, when a train and a bus collided, resulting in the death of six of the bus passengers, was opened to-day. Noel Herbert Wilkinson, the driver o£ the bus, is charged with negligently driving a bus and thereby causing six deaths. The evidence at the inquest and the case against Wilkinson were taken simultaneously. Robert Menzies, assistant engineer in the Public Works Department, Whangarei, stated that he took measurements for the purpose of preparing a plan of the road and railway and showing the position of the train wreckage and different views of visibility. Standing on the crossing facifig to Whangarei, a northbound train was visible for 45 chains 65 links. A bus driver travelling from Hikurangi at a point 5.45 chains from the crossing had a vision of 41 chains and five chains from the crossing had visibility of 36 chains. Two chains from the crossing there was a visibility of 24.40 chains. At the crossing the road was 20 feet wide. Coming from Hikurangi there was a rise to the crossing for 14 chains. He should say that a bus, travelling at a reasonable speed and provided the train was seen, could pull up. A person keeping a sharp lookout could not avoid seeing a train in daylight. At a later date witness went to the scene of the accident by night and had the opportunity of-seeing a train approaching the crossing from the south. He stood five chains on the Hikurangi side of the crossing and observed the train 41 chains from the crossing. He observed both the bright headlight and the side light from the guard’s van. It was moonlight, slightly overcast and raining. Through his wet windscreen he observed the oncoming train without difficulty. Speaking as a motorist who had driven over the crossing for many years, witness considered it to be safe from either approach. Eileen Isabella Trotter, of 46 Surrey street, Ponsonby, stated she was on holiday at Hikurangi on April 5 and joined the bus at Hikurangi at 6.20 p.m. to go to the pictures at Whangarei. Mr Noel Wilkinson was driving. When they were at Hikurangi a drizzle had started. There were 11 people in the bus, most of them known to her by name. No one sat with the driver. Witness could see nothing through the window of the bus owing to the dark. Witness was not keeping a lookout, but talking. She saw no lights and heard no whistle or anything to cause her to think a train was coming. The first thing she saw was the headlight of the engine right above her. So far as witness knew, she was the first in the bus to see the train and called out “Noel” just as the bus was struck. Nobody spoke before witness did, but witness did not know whether her voice was actually heard or was stifled. Witness saw no lights other than the headlight of the engine. She had a recollection of being hurled through the air, then rolled down the bank. She crawled to where she saw the back axle of the bus. She did not lose consciousness. Witness was sure no one in the bus saw the train until the moment before. She noticed nothing unusual about the speed and did not notice if the bus slowed down or otherwise. Witness was talking in the bus, put did not notice any skylarking amongst the boys at the back. The drived did not hold a conversation with anyone after they all got into the bus. Cross-examined, witness said that the words, “I saw the train when we were almost on the crossing,” contained in her original statement to the police were incorrect. Witness now stated they were actually on the crossing when witness called “Noel.” The light was straight above her. At the time, witness thought the bus was running into the train, but she now knew that the train ran into the bus. Witness stated that when they got into the bus the vehicle was lighted, but she did not remember whether the lights were left on. Arthur J. Wilkinson, Foreman of the Northern Motor Bus Co., said that Noel Wilkinson was a driver employed by the company and was now 19 years of age. Noel was in the usual state of health when witness saw him at the racecourse twenty minutes before he left for Hikurangi. Noel never took alcoholic liquor and had had none on the day in question. Charles Storey, guard on the train, described the efforts to succour the victims. With the driver he examined the engine’s headlight after the accident. It was burning brightly. There was a straight run after coming round the bend to McLeod’s Flat crossing. The train was allowed to travel 30 miles per hour, but would not be travelling at that speed. Witness considered the crossing comparatively safe. After witness got out of the train he observed the lights of the carriages as he walked along the train. Constable Farrell, Kawakawa, who was on the train, saw, after the accident, the headlight of the engine burning and the carriages lighted. Arthur Manning, driver of the train, said that rounding the bend to McLeod’s Crossing and about three parts down the straight, witness noticed two lights approaching from the direction of Hikurangi. A long blast of the whistle was given but no attempt Was made to pull up the approaching vehicle. He then saw it was a bus which was travelling 'at 35 to 40 miles per hour when witness hit it. The train was doing 25 to 30 miles per hour. He was watching the approach of the bus through the cab window. When he was about 20 yards off he could distinguish the bus as he had a side view. Witness immediately applied the emergency brakes, cut off steam and turned on the sand when he saw that the bus was going to cross in front of him. That was about ten yards before the crossing. The front of the engine hit the bus between the front and back wheels. The bus was lifted in the air and the engine hit it a second time. The bus finally came to rest on the left-hand side of the engine. The train pulled up in its own length. The headlight could easily be seen for a mile on a straight run.

Douglas Scott, fireman, said that when approaching the crossing he heard a long blast of the whistle and felt the application of the emergency brakes. When he and the driver ran back to the scene of the wreckage, he met Noel Wilkinson who said, “For God’s sake don’t say I was driving the bus.” He was bareheaded and appeared to be suffering from shock. William McEwan, who was motoring home from the races, noticed the train when he was approaching the crossing. He saw the lights and thought he heard a whistle. He considered the crossing to be dangerous. Mrs McEwan deposed that,, she did not hear the whistle, but saw the train lights which were shining brightly. Thomas G. Martin, aged 16, said the bus, which was lighted, did not stop till the collision occurred. Two of the boys who were killed were skylarking and leaving their seats. Another was fooling with Trevor Doel. He did not notice the driver try to put on the brake. Sergeant O’Grady corroborated Menzie’s statements as to visibility on the night when the test was made. Peter Jack, surfaceman, heard the whistle and said the train was lighted when it passed his cottage seven chains from the crossing. The Coroner found that the six deecased met their deaths as the result of a collision between a train and a bus driven by Noel Wilkinson.

Wilkinson was committed for trial on a charge of negligent driving causing deaths.