Connecticut western news., 1920-12-30
CORONER'S FINDING IN RAILROAD FATALITY
Exonerates C. N. E. Road
 and Employees from ... ... Blame

Coroner s. A. Herman in finding announced Tuesday exonerates from blame the Central New England rail- way and it's employees in the Salis- bury grade crossing fatality of Nov. 2 when an automobile truck loaded with household goods was struck by westbound passenger train, re- sulting in the death of John F. Rip pon of Suffern, N. Y, and the injury of two other men who. were riding in the truck with Nippon.
 The coroner's finding follows:
 On said Nov. received notice from William B. Bissell, M. D., medical examiner for the town of Salisbury, that there had been col lision between train No. 989 on the Central New England railway, manned by Theodore Shook, conduc- tor; John J. Kane, engineer, and Daniel Grant, fireman, also brake men, which was travelling westward and was due at Salisbury station st 11:59 a. m., and an automobile truck which contained a load of furniture and three persons, the said deceased and two young men, Charles Hoffman and Frank Doyle, aged IT and 1s, respectively, and was operated by one of the young men. ea 6.
 On the 27th day of December, 1920, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, I held an inquest in the town hall in said Salisbury and examined several witnesses. -na.
 find that said train was practa- cally on time, that the engineer had shut off the steam and the train was coasting to the railroad station, which is situated about quarter of a mile westerly from said railroad crossing. The railroad track east of said crossing can be- seen for at least half g mile and travellers on the highway, whichg parallels the railroad for that distance, have an unobstructed view of the railroad and wast at least as far as the sta tion. The left breast beam of the engine collided with the right side of the truck about the. center of the engine, throwing the truck of the track down about five-foot embank- jment on Skhoa ranthariy side of said railroad track and only a short dis tancs from the crossing. The auto mobile was immediately enveloped in flames, caused probably by the burst ing of the gasoline tank. The occu- pants of the truck were not burned, but were cut and bruised, and the left leg of the deceased was broken from which and the shock he died. At this crossing there is a bell and also semaphores showing red signals when a train is approaching. The bell was ringing and the signals were exhibited and were visible to the occupants of the automobile truck had they looked and listened, and the bell could have been heard if they had listened. The locomotive was on the crossing before the truck had reached the rails. The train was not moving rapidly. As it was brought to a standstiIl the rear car was as the evidence disclosed, from 30 to 60 feet from the place of ac- cident. This accident happened at about 12 o'clock.
 | therefore am of the opinion and find from inquest that the said John F. Rippon's death was caused as aforesaid, was violent, untimely and sudden, but was not caused by the criminal act, omission or careless ness of the said railway company or its employees, nor any other person, except the said deceased and the other occupants of said automobile truck. #