RAILWAY FATALITY.
YOUNG WOMAN KILLED AT CHRISTCHURCH RAILWAY STATION.
A fatal accident occurred at the Christchurch Railway Station on Saturday afternoon, as the four o'clock train was leaving the platform for Lyttelton.
A Miss Eva Maude Eason, aged between twenty-one and twenty-two, who intended to travel by train to Lyttelton to return to her employer, Mrs Gardiner, at Purau, hastened down the steps from the footbridge at Madras Street, and as the train moved off attempted to board it. She caught hold of the iron stanchion of the carriage, but swung round, and, losing her foothold, fell between the carriage and the platform. She was dragged for some distance before the train was pulled up, and sustained severe internal injuries. She was conveyed to the Hospital by Constable Saunders, but died about three minutes after admission without regaining consciousness.
Dr Thomas attended her at the railway station, and found that no bones had been broken, but that she was badly crushed and bruised, and had sustained concussion of the brain.
Miss Eason was in company with her married sister at the time of the accident. An inquest was held yesterday afternoon at the Hospital, before Mr H. A. Bishop, Coroner. Mr Gray appeared for the Railway Department.
Mrs Edith J. Anderson, sister of Miss Eason, said that deceased had been living at Purau, and had been in Christchurch visiting her since 10 a.m. on Saturday. The train by which she intended to go to Port started just as they got to the Madras Street railway bridge. The deceased ran on, as it was important that she should catch that train in order to connect with the Purau boat. When boarding the train she slipped between the platform and the carriage. There was nobody at hand to prevent her from boarding the train at the time. She was carrying several small parcels.
Charles W. Smith, engine-driver, said that on Saturday as the 4 p.m. Lyttelton train was leaving Christchurch he was on an engine on the main line almost opposite the Lyttelton engine. When the train had travelled about a couple of car lengths he saw Miss Eason, who appeared to have come from the Madras Street steps, attempting to board it. The train was moving very slowly. She had several parcels with her, and caught hold of the iron upright on the foremost end of the first carriage, but slewed round., and losing her footing fell between the carriage and the platform, where she was crushed until the carriage passed her, when she fell between it and the van. Witness ran forward with the intention of pulling her clear of the wheels, but as he caught hold of her the Westinghouse brakes were applied from the front van, and the train was stopped before it had passed over her. He lifted her, and although there were no marks visible she was unconscious. There was nobody at hand to prevent her from attempting to board, as all the officials stood clear as soon as the train started. The parcels might have encumbered her, although a man could easily have boarded the train at the rate it was going.
Dr J. T. W. Wilkin, assistant house surgeon at the Hospital, said Miss Eason was brought to the institution on Saturday shortly before five o’clock. She was then in a moribund condition, and in a state of absolute collapse. She was examined, and was found to have a bruise and a slight cut on the back of her head. She was also cut on the thigh and one of the lower left ribs was broken. The lower part of her spine was injured, and she was bruised on the legs. The injuries were consistent with the nature of the accident, and death had resulted from the injuries.
A verdict was returned that deceased met her death by accidentally falling between the platform and the carriage while attempting to board a moving train. -Lyttelton Times, 25/6/1906.
No comments:
Post a Comment