CROSSING TRAGEDY
REV. LAWSON MARSH KILLED
BOY PASSENGER DIES FROM INJURIES
A car driven by the Rev. W. Lawson Marsh, minister of Columba Presbyterian Church, Oamaru, collided with the northbound express train at Herbert crossing on Saturday afternoon. The badly-smashed car was carried over the cattle stop and deposited on the bank, and Mr Marsh was dead when extricated, while the other occupant of the car, David Allan Cairns, a boy 10 years of age, of 20 Lune street Oamaru, was so severely injured that he died at the Oamaru Public Hospital about 4 o'clock on the same afternoon. He was the son of Mrs Cynthia Cairns and the late Mr David Cairns.
Mr Marsh was travelling to Glencoe, accompanied by the boy, to visit a bible class and Boy Scout camp, when the accident occurred. Dr Trotter, of Herbert, was summoned, and gave medical aid to the boy.
The express stopped and was backed to the scene of the accident, where the body of Mr Marsh and the injured boy were placed on the train. On arrival at Oamaru the boy was removed to the Oamaru Public Hospital, where he died at 4 o'clock.
An inquest on the bodies of the victims was opened yesterday afternoon before Mr H. C. Jeffery, coroner, and a jury of four. Senior sergeant McGregor represented the police. Robert Brown, who gave evidence of identification in connection with Mr Marsh, said that the deceased's eyesight and hearing were both good. The other victim was identified by G. W. Atkinson. The inquest was then adjourned sine die. -Evening Star, 10/4/1944.
SCOUTING ACTIVITIES
Scouts of the Columba pack formed a guard of honour at the funeral of the Rev. W. Lawson Marsh yesterday. Mr Marsh was the padre of the pack. Cubs of the Columba pack attended the funeral of their brother Cub, David Allan Cairns, who died of injuries received .in the crossing accident at Herbert. -Otago Daily Times, 12/4/1944.
HERBERT CROSSING FATALITY
INQUEST CONCLUDED
The inquest into the deaths of the Rev. W. Lawson Marsh and David Alan Cairns, who lost their lives as the result of a railway crossing accident at Herbert on April 8, 1944, was concluded before Mr H. C. Jeffery, J.P., and a Jury of four — Messrs D. Findlay (foreman), P. Mulligan, R. Hinton, and J. D. Forbes. Senior Sergeant T. I. McGregor conducted the inquiry for the police, Mr A. Hamilton appeared for Mrs Marsh, Mr J. H. Main for Mrs Cairns, and Mr C. G. Browett for the Railways Department.
Harold Brunton Medlin, driver of the leading engine on the Invercargill-Lyttelton express on April 8, stated that he noticed by the speed recorder that the train was running at a speed of just on 40 miles an hour. He gave the usual whistle for the station, and acknowledged the porter’s signal with a short blast, and then with a longer and louder whistle. He saw a motor car proceeding from east to west along the road which crossed the line at the north end of the station. He again blew the whistle. He was keeping a look-out through the windshield for the crossing, a view of which could not be obtained from the engine until it was clear of the north end of the station buildings. There was no wind. When he first saw the motor car it was travelling fast on a down grade almost on the crossing. It appeared to witness that the driver saw that he could not stop in time and accelerated. When the engine struck the car witness stopped the train in about its own length.
John Ernest Latimer, who was a fireman on the Invercargill-Lyttelton express on April 8, stated that approaching Herbert the express was practically on time, and when it had about reached the distant signal he heard the engine whistle. A further whistle was given, and the right-away signal was given by the porter, and Driver Medlin gave a whistle just before the crossing. He estimated the speed of the train at between 35 and 40 miles an hour. The first he saw of the motor car was when it came around the front of the engine. The accident happened almost immediately after the driver sounded the whistle.
Stanley Forbes, porter at the Herbert railway station, said the car appeared to dash across in front of the engine, and he thought at first that it had got safely over the crossing. The visibility at the crossing was poor for traffic approaching from the east.
To Mr Hamilton, witness said that a motorist approaching the crossing was travelling at an angle. It was not possible for the motorist to see a train approaching at an angle from behind him unless he looked back over the car. There were some trees on the driver’s left as he approached the crossing, and these would obstruct his view. Few people used the crossing except farmers in the district.
To Mr Browett, witness said the compulsory stop sign was in good order.
Constable A. V. Christianson said the view for a motorist approaching the line from the east was very bad. There was no view of the line south of the north end of the railway station building, until a motorist was within 21 feet of the rails of the crossing.
To Mr Hamilton, witness said he would not say there was a danger to motorists approaching the crossing. There was a certain amount of danger when a train was travelling north.
To Mr Browett, witness said that if a motorist observed the compulsory stop notice there would be no danger at the crossing.
Dr David J. Miller and Dr Marjorie E. Cuttle, house surgeons at the Oamaru Public Hospital, gave evidence of the injuries suffered by Mr Marsh and David Allan Cairns.
Bertram Boyd Walton said that Mr Marsh had had possession of the car for between four and six months prior to the accident. He had never seen him driving at anything other than a moderate speed.
The jury returned a verdict that the Rev. W. Lawson Marsh and David Allan Cairns died from injuries received when the car in which they were travelling was struck by the north-bound express. The jury recommended that all trees and vegetation near crossings be kept clear to give a reasonable view.
Mr Jeffery, on behalf of himself and the jury, expressed sympathy with Mrs Marsh and family in the death of Mr Marsh, which, he said, was not only a severe blow to the community, but was also a great loss to the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. He also expressed sympathy with Mrs Cairns, in the death of her only son. Senior Sergeant McGregor, on behalf of the police, and Mr Browett, for the Railways Department, associated themselves with the expression of sympathy. -Otago Daily Times, 9/5/1944.
Oamaru Cemetery.
No comments:
Post a Comment