DEADLY CROSSING

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 582, 7 February 1929, Page 1

DEADLY CROSSING

INQUEST ON H'tIOTIU VICTIMS TRAIN HITS MOTOR-CAR (From Our Own Corresvondent) HAMILTON, To-day. . The circumstances of the deaths of i Mrs. Alice Armstrong, aged 41, of Parle I Road ’ Horotiu, Mrs. Lindsay Ander- ! son ’ 25 ; of 185 Remuera Road, and ! Miss Violet Howie, aged 30, of Amy | Streeß Ellerslie, at Horotiu level- ; crossing on January 1, were investij S a tecl by tbe Coroner, Mr. B. C. Lowry and a jury of four to-day. Tile three women, in company with Mr. Alexander Armstrong, husband of one of them, and Miss Molly Armstrong, aged eight, were returning by motor from a holiday at Waihi Beach When the car was struck by the Roto-rua-Auckland express when the party was within sight of the Armstrong home.

Mr. W. J. King, president and solicitor of the Hamilton Agency of the Automobile Association, was present during the proceedings at the request of the agency, an opinion that the Railway Department should accept a greater measure of responsibility for the safety of level-crossings, having been expressed at a meeting a few nights ago.

The driver of the car, Mr. Armstrong, was represented by Mr. N. Johnson.

Dr. David Martin, who was called to the scene of the tragedy, said that on his arrival he found Mrs. Armstrong dead and the other four injured. He ordered the removal to the hospital of the injured. Further evidence concerning the deaths of Miss Howie and Mrs. Anderson in the hospital was given by Dr. H. C. Barrett.

James Hannan, driver of the train, said the train was 19 minutes late in leaving Frankton Junction. It comprised two engines, and eight carriages. He sounded the whistle 400 yards from the crossing and again when passing the station. He saw the car about two chains from the line.

Witness applied the brake and cut off the steam. He was unable to see the car earlier, owing to an obstruction. He regarded tfie crossing as dangerous.

The fireman, G. A. Robertson, corroborated this evidence. Alexander Armstrong, driver of the car, said that on nearing the line he heard one of the women remark that there was no train coming. He first saw the train as it entered the crossing. He was aware of the dangerous nature of the crossing, as he lived at Horotiu for 40 years. The inquest is proceeding.