RAILWAY CROSSING FATALITIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 June 1919, Page 5

RAILWAY CROSSING FATALITIES.

need for warning bell. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Palmerston North, Last Night. When returning a verdict of accidental death on Jean Pedersen, aged 10, who was run into at a level crossing by the New Plymouth-Wellington express on May 27, the coroner (Mr. Page, S.M.) stated tiiat the train was evidently travelling through the crossing at a high rate of speed. The whistle was properly Bounded, but on account of the adverse wind the sound of the whistle of the approaching train was not so noticeable as it might have been under other conditions. It was clear that if the children in the trap had taken proper precautions they would have seen the train approaching and averted the tragic occurrence. The coroner added the following rider: "Whatever may be the legal position of the Railway Department, I think, in the public interest, there should be at crossings of this nature an automatic alarm bell to give warning of the approach of trains. The crossing is in the centre of a small township, is used a great deal, and some trains pass over it at great speed If such .a bell bad been installed the child would not have lost her life. Mthough nn adult in possession of liis normal faculties would probably not no caught at this crossing, it must be remembered that the crossing is used by children, who may be thoughtless, and also by others, such as elderly people for instance, whose faculties may not be (ceen.