John Downes

John Downes was killed by a tram in Redan.

History
John Downes was struck by a tram in Redan on 29 June 1923 and died the following day. The tram tracks came along Drummond Street, and turned into Skipton Street on the route to Sebastopol. "ACCIDENT VICTIM IDENTIFIED. BALLARAT, Monday. —The man who died in the hospital on Saturday as the result of injuries caused by his having been knocked down by a tram at Redan on Friday evening, was identified to-day as John Downes, a bachelor, aged 59 years. Subsequently an inquiry into the circumstances was made by the coroner (Mr. P. H. V. Elliget). Evidence was given that on Friday night Downes was standing near the tram track. The motorman sounded the bell twice, and Downes fell right across the track and was run over, although the brakes were applied promptly. It was very dark at the spot, and the street lamp was not alight. The coroner found that death was due to fracture of the skull and laceration of the brain, and that no blame was attachable to the motorman, who had done all that he could to avoid an accident."