DRAGGED BY ENGINE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 213, 28 November 1927, Page 13

DRAGGED BY ENGINE

FATALITY AT OHINGAITI INQUEST ON J. E. LEY (Special to THE SUN.) MANGAWEKA, Saturday. The inquest concerning the death ot John Edward Ley, who was killed when a goods train crashed into the trolley on which he was riding, was opened before the District Coroner, Mr. J. P. Aldridge, at Ohingaiti. Evdence was given that a strong wind was blowing and that Bettridge, who was on the trolley with Ley, had his head down and did not see the approaching engine. Ley had his back to the engine. Evidence of identification was given by Henrietta Ley, wife of deceased, who said that her husband left home at 7.30 o’clock On Friday morning.

Dr. David Matthew Mitchell, of Hunterville, who found Ley’s body lying near the railway line near the Makohine Viaduct, said that death must have been instantaneous. Ley had a compound fracture of the skull and laceration o£ the brain. William Darcy Davies, ganger at Ohingaiti, who witnessed the accident, said that the train was travelling at 30 miles an hour when it struck tlxe trolley head-on. It carried Ley 13 chains with his head pinned under the cowcatcher. Witness said that on the piece of line where the accident occurred there was a clear view if a proper look-out were kept, and there would have been time to remove the trolley from the line. The inquest was adjourned sine die.