Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-12-25

a Maine Central Railroad train at
Bowdoinham village on the afternoon
of December Is last, according to
decision rendered Thursday by the
Public Utilities Commission.
The full text Of the decision Is as
follows:
Edward WEIGH of Bowdoinham,
Maine, was struck and instantly killed
by Train No. of the Maine Central
Railroad Company at point on it's
track about one fourth of mile from
Bowdoinham village, on the fifteenth
day Of December, 1914, at 4 o'clock in
the afternoon. The accident was re-
ported Immediately to this office and
an investigation was made on the
ground by a member of this commits
sion in person on the 18th inst.
The track of the Maine Central
Railroad Company at the point OF the
accident is crossed by a private cross
ing, known as the Steam Mill cross
ing, which leads from Bridge street
to the old mill yard on the bank of
the Cathance river. The railroad at
this point runs about northeast AMI
southwest parallel with the highway
known as Bridge street. The high
way runs close to the embankment Of
the railroad, which is on grade sew
eral feet above the grade of the high
way. The tracks are approached
from the highway by a steep incline
The surface of the roadbed of the
railroad is graded on the southeast or
highway side, to a sufficient width to
permit a team, if necessary. to turn
either way after ascending the incline
without crossing the track. The rail-
road just before reaching this cross
ing, as it approaches the station, be-
gins a substantial curve toward the
river and away from the highway.
The tracks are approached from the
highway by steep incline. The sur
face of the roadbed of the railroad is
graded on the southeast or highway
side to sufficient width to permit
team, if necessary, to turn either way
after ascending the incline without
crossing the track. The railroad just
before reaching this crossing, as il
approaches the station, begins a sub
stantial curve toward the river and
away from the highway. The view of
the railroad track from the highway
for a considerable distance northeast
of the crossing and from a consider
able distance southwest of 1t is en-
tirely unobstructed except for the
presence of telephone and telegraph
poles located between the highway
and the railroad track, which might
impede but not shut off the view at
some points, but only momentarily.
Welch just prior to the accident was
driving team consisting of two hors-
es to a heavy cart northeasterly along
Bridge street toward this crossing
with the intention of going over to the
river side of the railroad to secure a
load of junk. A young man named
Victor Glazier, his assistant, was rid
ing in the back of the cart. He drove
to the point opposite the crossing,
turned abruptly to his right and
drove upon the track just as the Maine
Central train from Waterville %
Portland, due at the Bowdoinham sta
ton at 4.01 P. NJ reached the same
point. The engine struck the horses
and forward end of the cart instantly
killing Welch and the horses and
throwing Glazier some distance but,
it is believed, not seriously injurins
him.
A portion of the accident was seen
by two young women who were driv-
ing along Bridge street in the same
direction, returning from school. SO
far as can be learned, there is no evil
dence that Welch looked in the direc-
ton of the train, or was at any time
aware of its approach. A strong wind
was blowing in the direction from him
and toward the train.
The engineer in charge of the train
stated Immediately after the accident
that he saw the team coming toward
the train along Bridge street but that
there was then nothing to indicate
that the driver intended to make the
crossing. In following the curve of
the track as the train approached the
engineers gaze was diverted from the
line of the highway, and he lost sight
of the driver until he suddenly APP
peared in front of the train too near
to avoid the collision.
1t is our opinion that the accident
was due entirely to the negligence OF
WEIGH in driving upon the crossing
without taking any notice of whether
train was approaching and that 10
blame is attributable to any other
person.
The commission deems it appro-
pirate in this connection to state its
policy in regard to formal hearings on
cases like the above. The law re-
cures it to cause an investigation -
be made in all cases of fatal accidents
in connection with the operation OF
public utilities. This requirement
will be strictly observed. The com
mission does not, however. feel that 4
formal hearing is advisable in cases
where a personal examination salts
fies it that no light will be thrown
upon the nature and cause of the &C
cident beyond what is secured through
it's preliminary Investigation. Fur
Their and formal hearing can in such
cases serve no useful purpose, while
they would necessarily entail substan
tial and in the end very large expense