Oxford Democrat., 1919-06-03
coy.s cressinr Accident.

| The public utilities commission on
Wednesday rendered it decision In the
case of the collision on the 10th of May
at Coy's crossing In Oxford, when an
automobile driven by w. w. Jacobs
was struck by Grand Trunk freight train
No. $50. resulting In the death Of Mrs.
Fred Young of Norway. The commits
sion says:
"The careless, the stupid and 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, % we'll az of common sense, which
he and every one 10 presumed to know.
"No automobile driver, who is guilty
of such practices, ought to be permitted
to retain bis license, and thereby con.
tinue to be q menace to himself and
everyone else with whom he comes In
contact" says the commission further
In Its decision.
"It would also seem to be reasonable
and proper that such driver when
fatal accident has occurred through bis
carelessness or negligence, should be
presented to the grand jury, and It the
evidence will warrant 1t, indicted and
tried for manslsughter. We know OF no
other procedure which will In any Of
ficient way protect the public, and pre-
vent such unfortunate and unnecessary
accidents as the one We are now consid-
ering. A copy of the report is being
sent to the Secretary of State, who has
charge of tho issuing 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 be very willing
and glad to assist any OF these depart
ments In ascertaining the exact facts
and circumstances In this case.
"Mr. Jacobs and the other occupants
of the automobile were badly shaken up
and injured to some extent.
"Coy's Crossing is what ID known as
safe crossing. A clear vision OF the
crossing may be had In oil directions for
long distances, both from the railroad
and the highway. The highway from
Oxford to Mechanic Falls runs along for
some distance nearly parallel to and In
plain view Of the railroad and CROSSES
the track at an acute angle.
"The automobile was proceeding
towards the crossing in the. same direc-
ton as the train, and was seen by the
engineer, when the train was at the
wbistling post, more than 1900 feet west
of the crossing. The evidence shows
that the crossing whistle was blown at
this whistlipg 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 warn
ing blasts of the danger whistle were
sounded. The engineer says that the
speed of the automobile slackened as 1t
approached the crossing, and that he
assumed that the chauffeur would stop
bis 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 brakes 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 what
ever 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
be reached the crossing, and 1t was bis
plain duty to stop bis car and not to at
tempt to 20 over the crossing In front
of the approaching train. Even II be
we're willing to risk his own life and
property, he had no legal or moral right
to expose the other helpless occupants
of his car, and possibly also the people
on the train, to the risk of fatal accident.
1t was his plain duty to stop and look
and listen,' and had he observed either
one of these injunctIons In this case, the
accident would not have happened, and
the needless sacrifice of q human life
would have been avoided.
"If accidents like this are to occur
under such circumstances as appear In
this case, certainly all the precaution
taken and all the great expense incurred
both by the State and by the railroad
companies to protect the public at grade
crossings, appear to be vain and useless. !"