A RAILWAY FATALITY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2605, 13 September 1909, Page 5

A RAILWAY FATALITY.

OLD MAN KILLED AT A CROSSING

[Per Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 11. Shortly before five o’clock this evening an elderly man was killed on the Sockburn railway crossing by the engine of the first express from the south. It appears that on approaching Sockburn the engine-driver sounded his whistle as usual to warn anyone in the vicinity of the crossing. The road at this point crosses the line at an acute angle, making it difficult for an approaching train to be seen from the road, or an approaching vehicle from the railway. When the train was within a few yards of the crossing, a gig, driven by an elderly man, suddenly appeared, and nothing could be done to avert an accident. The locomotive crashed into the gig, smashing it into matchwood. The horse was just clear of the line, but was thrown down and considerably knocked about. The occupant of the vehicle was struck with terrific force on The head, and hurled across on to the next line of rails. When picked up he was bleeding from the nose and mouth, and had sustained such injuries to his head that death evidently had been instantaneous. The train was promptly pulled up. The cushions of the. gig were earned along in front of the cowcatcher. The body of the unfortunate man was placed in the . van and brought on to Christchurch, where it was taken to the morgue. The deceased appeared to be a farmer of about 60 years of age. A search of his clothing resulted m the finuding of a savings bank deposit book bearing the name of John McTavish.