Section 28. Every railroad corporation, railway company and carrier of passengers for hire by motor vehicle under the jurisdiction of the department shall give immediate notice of an accident on its railroad or railway or on or connected with a motor vehicle belonging to it, resulting in a loss of life, to the medical examiner of the county who resides nearest to the place of accident, and shall also, within twenty-four hours, give notice to the department of any such accident or of any accident of the description of accidents of which it may require notice to be given. For each omission to give such notice, the corporation, company or other carrier shall forfeit not more than one hundred dollars.