CYCLISTS DEATH.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20496, 15 March 1932, Page 6

CYCLISTS DEATH.

FATAL ACCIDENT AT MARSHLAND. CORONER'S COMMENT ON EVIDENCE. "This was one of those unfortunate accidents all too commonly experienced in New Zealand. It was contributed to by two factors: the speed at which Cook was driving his vehicle, and, I think it is safe toi say, it having been - proved beyond all doubt in my opinion, .the cyclist's wobbling to the right, just before the impact," stated Mr E. D. Mosley, Coroner, at the conclusion of the inquest yesterday into the de . Joseph Rogal, a single man, living at Marshland. , , (Ut The Coroner returned a verdict that Rogal died at the Puhiic Hospital on February sth, death being due cere bral laceration and hsemorrlmge from a fracture of the skull, the result struck and knocked over, while riding a bicvcle, by a motor-truck driven by John Edwards Cook on the Marshland road . about three-quarters of a mile from Shirley road. Dr. Paul Hamilton Wood, house surgeon at the Christchurch Hospital, said that Eogal was admitted at 9.20 a.m. on February 4th. He was bleeding from the right ear and obviously had a fracture of the base of the ■ t* scveral broken ribs, and the "8" collarbone was broken There did not seem to be any hope from the start. He died at 2.30 p.m. on February oth. The cause of death was cerebral laceration and haemorrhage from a fracture of the skull. Speed of CarConstable J. B. Kearton said that on the moruing of February 6th, m company with other police officers, he went to the scene of the accident, where ho took several photographs. Witness also produced sketches of thq scene of the accident, showing skid-marks, etc. To counsel for Cook, witness said that the measurements of the wheel tracks had been taken before they were chalked for photographic purposes. He thought that Cook must have been bralcinc as otherwise the car would have had to be travelling at a terrific pace to make the marks it left on thc road. Frederick Arps, farmer, of 263 Marshland road, said that at about 9 a.m. on February 4th he was talking to Rogal on the Marshland road. Kogal later rode towards Christchurch on his bicycle. He was riding on his correct side of the road. A man named Murhtt was driving two trotting horses in the same direction. Immediately afterwards Cook passed the horses, travelling "pretty fast," said witness. He estimated the speed at well over 45 miles an hour. Cook was driving in the centre of the road. Witness looked round in time to see the truck strike Roeal, who was pushed some distance in front of the truck. After the impact the truck swerved to the right, with the left rear wheel off the ground, travelline about two yards off the bitumen on to the grass, and finishing up again on its correct side of the truck travelled about 60 yards after the impact. Witness did not hear the brakes applied, but there were skid marks for about 40 yards. To counsel for the relatives, witness said that Murfitt's sulky was about two feet to two feet six inches from the bitumen, when Cook passed. Rogal was about 18 incheß in from the edge of the bitumen. Befoi® the accident Cook swerved in to the left. "Car Swerved." Bland Thomas William Owen, civil engineer, residing at Woolston, said that he waa riding his bicycle on Marshland road when the accident occurred. He saw Rogal cycling towards him. The truck was about 4 chain behind the cyclist, when witness first saw It, travelling with its right wheel on the crown of the road. Witness had glanced momentarily to.the left when his attention waß attracted by the crash. The car swerved violently to the right side of the road with an upward lifting motion of the front wheels, and then finished up on Ihe left side of the road, travelling three or four chains beyond the point of impact. "The driver was in. an excited state and said that the cyclist swerved, and then he Bworved, or something like that," said witness. The truck was evidently unloaded, and, witness thought, was travelling at between 30 and 40 miles an hour. Jean Sharlick, of 22 Reeves's road, Marshland, said that on the morning of February 4th her attention was attracted to two motor vehicles on Marshland road, one driven by Cook and one by a -Mr Hickmott. They were travelling at about 40 nriles an hour. About nine chains down the road Cook's truck passed the other, swerving to the left and then to the right again. Witness thought for a moment that it was going to capsize. A gorse hedge screened the scene of the accident from her sight. She did not learn of the accident until Mr Arps came for hot water. Harry Murfitt, a horse trainer, of Marshland, said he was about a chain .and a half b.ehind Rogal when Cook passed him, travelling, witness thought, between 25 and 30 miles an hour. Rogal was ■ carrying something in his right hand, and ho leint down to hitch this up under his arm when he swerved in toward the centre of the road, the truck swerving at the same time. The cycle appeared to be struck just behind the pedal by that portion of the car between the front wheel and the running board, the 'cycle being thrown to the side of the road. Driver's Evidence. John E. Cook, general storekeeper, Amberley, said that when passing the horses he slowed down to about 25 miles an hour. He had just accelerated again when the man on the bicycle in front stooped down to do something and witness pulled out to the right. Just as he approached the bicycle swerved away to the right, and witness could not avoid striking him. Witness jammed on the brakes, skidding heavily to the right side of the road. He released the brakes and brought the truck back on to the road., The handle of the bicycle struck the cab door of witness's truck, breaking the glass and bending the handle. He was travelling at about 20 miles an hour.. George William Edgar Hickmott, a fruiterer, of Rangiora, stated that Cook passed him about four miles before the scene of the accident, remaining ahead of witness up to the time of the accident. Mrs Sharlick's statement that Cook pased him near her house was incorrect. Albort Herbert Candy, a commercial traveller, said, he was riding a motorcycle about 50 yards behind Cook at the time of the accident. Cook had passed him going slightly more than 30" miles an hour. The cycle was jlbout 18 inches in from the edge of the bitumen when he first saw it. At his next glance, a second before the impact, it was some five or six feet in. The side of the car seemed to strike the man on" his left side. - Coroner's Comments. After making the remarks quoted above the Coroner said he had been impressed with the evidence of Cook, Hickmott, and Candy, particularly that of tho last-mentioned, whose evidence was a fair statement of facts with no attempt to exaggerate or to impress the Court with facts that he did not seo.