Thursday, May 24, 1951 The Liberal (Richmond Hill) Page 1, col. 7

Jury advices protection at CNR crossing

Strong recommendation that an electrical signal or other warning device be placed at the Canadian National railway crossing at Gormley on the Whitchurch-Markham town line road was made by a coroner's jury which convened in Richmond Hill last Wednesday night to investigate the death of Alonzo Thomas Gooding of Gormley.

Mr. Gooding, 66, rural mail carrier and retired minister in the United Missionary Church, was killed May 3 when his car was struck at the crossing by a southbound Canadian National freight train.

Testimony of two witnesses, Sidney Gadsby and Rev. L. K. Sider, both of Gormley, was to the effect that visibility was very bad in both directions at the crossing and a depression in the road had a tendency to cause cars to stall. The inquest was conducted by Coroner Dr. J. P. Wilson of Richmond Hill.

Mr. Sider was the first to reach the car which was thrown 12 feet from the railway right-of-way and identified the body for Provincial Constable A. Houldsworth of Whitchurch township. death was apparently instantaneous and main blood vessels to the heart were ruptured according to Dr. William Cowan of Richmond Hill who conducted an autopsy.

Thomas E. Ritchie, engineer of the train which was hauling 49 cars and he saw the car slowly approaching the crossing when he was about 50 feet away and he immediately applied his emergency [brake] but was unable to stop the heavy train in time to avoid the impact. The car was dragged 56 feet beyond the crossing and was completely wrecked. Other members of the crew in the cab were Donald Johnston, fireman and Jimmy Johnson, brakeman.

Crown Attorney Arlin Armstrong of Newmarket questioned the witnesses. Members of the jury were Ken Tomlin, foreman; James Grainger, Harold Hills, Fred Leitch, Lauder Glass.

Railways: C.N.Rys.

Stations: Gormley

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