Coroner’s Court FATAL ACCIDENT IN YALDHURST ROAD

Press, Volume C, Issue 29513, 13 May 1961, Page 15

Coroner’s Court FATAL ACCIDENT IN YALDHURST ROAD

A finding that Clifford Roy Kingston, aged 51, and Leila Catherine Austin, aged 52. died from shock from multiple injuries, suffered when their cars collided at the corner of Yaldhurst and Carmen roads on January 28, was returned by the Coroner (Mr E. B. E. Taylor) at an inquest yesterday. Kingston was the driver of one of the cars, and Mrs Austin the driver of the other. Eight other persons were injured. Mary Olivia Austin said that, with her mother and sister, she left Sheffield by car to visit friends in Christchurch. She sat in the front by her mother, who was driving. At no stage did her mother exceed 50 miles an hour, and the car made no stops after leaving Sheffield. She had no recollection of the accident. Tests on Kingston’s car showed that the foot and hand brakes were in good order, said George Edward Palmer, a vehicle inspector. The car driven by Mrs Austin was almost a total wreck, and several tests could not be carried out, but he considered the car had been roadworthy.

A power-cyclist, William Ross Lochrie, who was also involved, said that about 1.40 p.m. he was travelling to Hornby along Fovant street. He slowed down approaching the intersection of Yaldhurst and Carmen roads, and there was a confusion of sounds. “The next I remember I was lying on the grass at the side of the roadway." Lochrie said he had spent a considerable time in hospital. Although stop signs were erected in Carmen road to warn of the Yaldhurst road crossing, the white line on the road had been obliterated by recent road works, said Constable N. Walker, who went to the accident. It appeared that Kingston had failed to give way. and his car had struck Mrs Austin’s on the right side. The power-cyclist had apparently been waiting to cross Yaldhurst road into Carmen road, and his machine was found under the front wheels of Kingston’s car. Skid marks from Kingston’s car took a sharp right turn near the middle-line of Yaldhurst road, and this probably marked the point of the collision, said Constable Walker. He had been unable to obtain any eyewitnesses.

CYCLIST KILLED When a cyclist swerved to avoid a parked car in Locksley avenue and then got off his cycle in the middle of the road, he was struck by a following car. The Coroner found that the cyclist George Charles Gordon, aged 50, died on December 22 from shock and hemorrhages from multiple injuries. In evidence. Liam Fitzgerald Cornelius said he was driving north-east along Locksley avenue in the same direction as the cyclist about 6.20 p.m. He braked wjjen he saw the cyclist swerve, and again immediately before the collision. He stopped about four feet after the collision, and found the cyclist lying under his car. John Henry Cairns said he saw ■ the cyclist swerve in front of the car driven by Cornelius. The car was travelling about 30 miles an hour, and was driven in a normal manner. DEATH UNDER ANESTHETIC Walter Brook Wilson, aged 50, was found to have died from a sudden cardiac arrest under anesthesia while undergoing an operation at the Christchurch Hospital on February 23. DEATH AT MOTUNAU

Eric Raymond Goodman, aged 49, was found to have died at Motunau on March 11 from fractures of the skull and cerebral lacerations. Eion George Gibb, a farmer, said he called to see Goodman after he had failed to keep an appointment He found him lying on the ground at the back of his dwelling with a gun nearby. Goodman had been in the habit of shooting rabbits near his dwelling, but was inclined to be clumsy, said Gibbs.