William Gilbert Crane, (1925-8/5/1950). "as long as we have tractors"

 MAN KILLED WHEN RUN OVER BY DISCS

(P.A.) WAIPUKURAU. May 10. Believed to have been knocked off a bridge seat by a piece of scrub a tractor driver was killed when run over by a set of discs at a farm at Wallingford, near Waipukurau, on Monday. He was: 

Mr. William Gilbert Crane, aged 28, single, agent, the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Crane, Waitahuna, Otago Central.

There were no witnesses of the accident, but searchers found the body late on Tuesday night in rough scrub country, 60 yards from the tractor, which had dug itself into a bank. The engine was still running. The injuries indicated that the discs towed by the tractor passed over the body.  -Gisborne Herald, 10/5/1950.

DEATHS

CRANE. — On May 8, 1950 (accidentally killed), at Wallingford, Hawke's Bay, William Gilbert, dearly loved second son of William and Ellen. Crane, of Waitahuna; aged 25 years. R.I.P. — Requiem Mass at St. Bridget's Church, Waitahuna, on Saturday. the 13th inst., at 9 a.m. — The Funeral will leave the church at 1.45 p.m. for the Waitahuna Cemetery. — R. McLean and Son. funeral directors.  -Otago Daily Times, 11/5/1950.

DEATH OF TRACTOR DRIVER FOUND TO BE ACCIDENTAL

WAIPUKURAU, May 30.

That he met his death when he accidentally fell from the tractor he was driving, was the finding of the coroner, Mr. F. J. Adeane, J.P., at the conclusion of the inquest into the death of William Gilbert Crane, aged 25. 

Medical evidence was given in the coroner's court at Waipukurau yesterday by Dr. D. Y. Allan. He stated that, in his opinion, death would have been instantaneous due to a fracture of the spine. He also gave details of other injuries and extensive fractures which were consistent with the deceased having been run over by heavy machinery, such as the discs towed by a tractor. 

The coroner said that tractors, when worked on uneven country, seemed dangerous things and almost inevitably accidents with them were fatal. In such events one always looked for a way to prevent such accidents, but even if anyone had been present nothing could have been done to prevent the happening. 

"However, the incident of fatal accidents is not high considering the many machines in use, and as long as we have tractors there will be accidents," he concluded.  -Hawkes Bay Herald Tribune, 30/5/1950.

Waitahuna Cemetery.