INQUEST CONCLUDED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 48, 16 February 1943, Page 5

INQUEST CONCLUDED

YOUNG WOMAN'S DEATH

SEQUEL TO ROAD ACCIDENT

The inquest into the death of the young married woman, Margaret May Graveson, who died in the Whakatane Hospital on February 1, as a result of in,-

juries received in an accident at Thornton took place before Mr G. A. Brabant, district coroner, in the Whakatane Courthouse last Saturday afternoon.

Francis. Henry Graveson driver of a Rural Mail van serving the Whakatane district said that on the date in question lie was accompanied bj r his wife on his round.. There were no other passengers. He stated that he had experienced trouble with the front wheel of the van and had changed it for the spare. This improvedj the driving temporarily but about 1.30 p.m. the van had started to go from one side of the road, to the other in the loose metal and finally got out of control, capsizing on the roadway. His wife had become janunedi between the open door and the cab. He himself was uninjured and had immediately tried to free iier, calling for help as he did so. The van was finally jacked up and his wife reeased. She was conveyed to the Whakatane Hospital where she died; at 4.30 p.m.

Witness added that he had been driving for seven years-,, had never previously been involved; in an accident and estimated his? speed at the lime at 30 miles per hour.

Trevor Hansen, motor engineer, who made an inspection of the van soon after the accident said that ho found the foot 'brakes, in good order though with a slight tendency to pull to the drivers side when applied. The steering gear when examined revealed in the King pin and tie-rod joints. The steering box and other joints weJ-e in good orrcr and the tyres excellent* He had found when driving the van that it answered quite well on both bitumen and metal roads.

Dr. E. T. Dawson gave medical evidence arid described the nature of the injuries stating that deceas'ed was in a dying condition when admitted 'to the hospital.

Constable Thomassen who visited the scene of the accident shortly after its occurran-ce, said that the road at this; point 'was: eighteen feet wide. There was a 6 inch camber and the surface was covered with very loose metal. In his opinion the accident was caused by . the loose metal and the camber of the

road. ,

After heaiing allelic evidence the coroner found— that Margaret May Gravcson died as the result! of injuries received by the. overturning a motor delivery van driven by her husband when proceeding along the East Bank Road between Edgecumbe. and Thornton.