William Huskisson

Vandaag gedenken we het allereerste slachtoffer ooit van een spoorwegongeval. Dat was William Huskisson (1770-1830), die op 15 september 1830 hoogstpersoonlijk werd doodgereden door de bedenker van de spoorwegen, George Stephenson. William Huskisson was staatssecretaris in de regering die werd geleid door de Duke of Wellington en sneuvelde in die hoedanigheid:

While attending the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, Huskisson rode down the line in the same train as the Duke of Wellington. At Parkside Railway Station, close to Newton-le-Willows in Lancashire, the train stopped to observe a cavalcade on the adjacent line. Several members of the duke's party stepped onto the trackside to observe more closely. Huskisson went forward to greet the duke. As Huskisson was exiting his car, the locomotive Rocket approached on the parallel track. As the train drew close he held on to the open carriage door, but the door was wider than the gap between the two trains and The Rocket struck it, forcing Huskisson off balance and under its wheels. His leg was horrifically mangled. The wounded Huskisson was taken by a train (driven by George Stephenson himself) to Eccles. When he reached hospital he was given a massive dose of laudanum. After being told his death was imminent he made his will, and died a few hours later.

Wie ons kan vertellen wie het allereerste slachtoffer ooit was van een auto-of fietsongeval, mag dat altijd laten weten.

Het prentje: Richard Rothwell (1800-1868), William Huskisson.