Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-05-29
A P. U. DECISION
THAT WILL HAVE
GENERAL APPROVAL

He Careless, the StuplO ana the
negligent automobile driver must be
taught that he cannot with impun-
ity, disregard the rights of the rail-
road company and the public and
violate the plain requirements of the
law, as well as of common sense,
which he and everyone is presumed
to know" declares the Public Utili-
ties Commission in decision rem
dered in the matter of the accident at
Coye's Crossing on the Grand Trunk
Railway, one and one-half miles east
of Oxford Station and three miles
west of Mechanic Falls, May 10 last.
when Mrs. Fred Young of Norway
was instantly killed, when Grand
Trunk Freight Train No. $50 struck
a Ford coupe automobile, driven by
w. w. Jacobs.
NO automobile driver, who is
guilty of such practices. ought to be
permitted to retain his license and
thereby continue to be menace
to himself and everyone else with
whom he comes in contact" say the
commission further in it's decision.
1T would also seem to be reason
able and proper that such a driver
when fatal accident has occurred
through his carelessness or negh-
gence. should be presented to the
grand jury, and if the evidence will
warrant it, indicted and tried for
manslaughter. We know of no 9TH
er procedure which will in any eff
ficient way protect the public. and
prevent such unfortunate and I'M
necessary accidents as the one we
are now considering. A copy of this
report is being sent to the Secretary
of State. who has charge of the is
suing of automobile licenses. and
also to the attorney general, and to
the county attorney of Oxford
county. and attention is called to the
foregoing suggestions.
This commission will he very
willing and glad to assist any of
these departments in ascertaining
the exact facts and circumstances in
this case.
MIR. Jacobs and the other occu-
pants of the automobile were badly
shaken up and injured to some ex-
tent.
"Coye's Crossing is what is known
as safe crossing. A clear vision
of the crossing may be had in all
directions for long distances. both
from the railroad and the highway.
The highway from Oxford to Me
chanic Falls runs along for some
distance nearly parallel to and in
plain view of the railroad and cross
es the track at an acute angle.
THE automobile was proceeding
towards the crossing in the same
direction as the train. and was seen
by the engineer. when the train was
at the whistling post, more than 1900
west of the crossing. The evidence
shows that the crossing whistle was
blown at this whistling post, and
once or twice more before reaching
the crossing. and that the bell was
ringing. When about $50 feet. west
Of the crossing, the warning blasts
Of the danger whistle were sounded.
The engineer says that the speed of
the automobile slackened as it ap-
preached the crossing, and that he
assumed that the chauffeur would
stop his car before going onto the
crossing. When it became apparent
that the chauffeur did not intend to
stop his car. the warning whistle was
sounded. the emergency breaks were
applied. and the train was stopped
about three car lengths east of the
crossing. but not in time to avoid the
collision.
There seems to be no reason
whatever why the driver Of this
automobile should have driven his
car onto this crossing in front of
this train. He saw. or might have
seen the train for some distance and
for long time before he reached
the crossing. and it was his plain
duty to stop his car and not to at
tempt to go over the crossing in
front of the approaching train
Even il he were willing to risk his
own life and property. he had no
legal or moral right to expose the
other helpless occupants of his ear.
and possibly also the people on the
train, to the risk Of fatal accident.
II was his plain duty TO Stop and
look and listen and had he OBJ