Train death
Woman’s jacket to blame
A woman killed by a train in Napier inadvertently walked into its path because she was wearing a hooded jacket and did not see or hear it coming.
Chief coroner Deborah Marshall has found the death of Carole Boswell on September 1, 2014, was a ‘‘tragic accident’’.
Boswell, 55, who lived in Te Awa Ave beside the railway line near Marine Parade, had taken her daughter’s dog for a walk in the afternoon.
Marshall’s finding noted it was a wet, miserable day and Boswell, who had a cold at the time, was wrapped up against the weather.
The train driver recalled sounding his horn as the train approached a controlled crossing, in Ellison St, near where Boswell was hit.
He estimated he went through the crossing about 3.50pm at a speed of about 55kmh. Neither he nor another man in the train with him noticed anything unusual at the intersection.
‘‘He advises there are a number of bushes and fences close to the track, and the only way they would not see someone at the side of the track would be if they were very close to the train where there is a blind spot,’’ the coroner said.
The train continued south for several kilometres before the driver was advised by a controller that a member of the public had called police to say a pedestrian had been hit by a train.
The driver stopped and examined the front of the train, where he found some blood and a broken light.
It was a passing motorist who noticed Boswell’s yellow jacket beside the tracks and realised it was a body.
Emergency services were called but Boswell had sustained multiple injuries and could not be revived.
The dog, which was badly injured, was taken to a veterinary surgeon and had to be euthanised.
A police investigation determined the train driver was not at fault.
‘‘Ms Boswell was wearing a hoodie and a large rain jacket that also had a hood,’’ the coroner said. ‘‘Both these hoods were over her head when she was found, and police consider it is likely her peripheral vision would have been limited by the hoods.
‘‘In addition, it was a rainy and windy day which, together with the hoods, would have limited Ms Boswell’s ability to hear the train.’’
Boswell was survived by partner Kere Wakefield, their son Trent, daughter Eden, 23, stepdaughter Leanne, and Leanne’s son.
In the days after her death, close friend Donna Horgan described Boswell as ‘‘an amazing lady who had an incredible commitment to her family’’.
‘‘She was 100 per cent behind her children. Supported them in whatever they did and followed them to every game they played.
‘‘She had a huge enthusiasm for life. Whatever she got into, she got into it boots and all.’’