Coroner's Comment On Bus Springs

Chronicle (Levin), 18 February 1949, Page 7

Coroner's Comment On Bus Springs

WEyTPOKT, Feb. 17,. Lengthy evidence was called fron. some oi the victims of the 28 in t V bus accident 011 the Karamea Road >*• Noveinber 27, motor mechanics, tli. driver of the v^hicte and others, when the inquest on the two per'sons who died a's a result of injuries received on that d'ay — Dorothy Betrie, married, and Ai-" fred Nuttall — was resumed at Westptu'i. today betore Mr. C. H. ^fhomas, J.ustic of the Peaee, acting* as Coroner. Mr. AI. B. Sculty appeared for the relativto of deceased and Alr. H. A. E. Maitland, Orovvn soiicitor, for the Bailways Dupartment whose road services bus was uivoiv-jd in the accident. The verdict in botli cases was that deceased died from injurrfis caused by an accident te the. bus driven by John'yamuel Keily. The Coroner said he had Laken" notice of the evidence ,given by the ocvupauts of the bus which indicated that Ihe accideiit had cerfcaAily not been caused uy speeding. iie eousidered it his duty, uowever,. to add soiuething to the vcj dict which might be of some serviee lo liie travelling public, in that lie would recoiiiinend tliat public veliicles earry uig passengers, especially in the Bullm district where the roads are dirticuil, should have their springs removcfd a-l delinite intervals atter they have done a certain mileage, for the springs, "U" bolts and other parts to be examiiied. .Wliere spcli are dal.'K 10 tjie ell'ects of water, cracks or cry stallisalion, it was essential that they suouid' be inspected • regularly.' Alr. Tliomas .said , that all tiiret mechanics, when giving evi leiice, had been delinite that such diieccs cwuJu 110 Lf be lound by an ordinaiy examina Lion. Jolin »Saniuel,Kejly, driver of the bm-, singie, aged 22 yeurj, of Crauity, saiu ■u evidence that he dad been. employt-u iu Lhat capacity by the Railw-tys lleparLmenl since J^ine, 1647, and since Laen had been over all routes in tht, disii'ict. Cn tiie day oi the uccidcnt !k had 28 people, including Juniseif, travel lmg to Ivarhniea. 'The weather was guud and visioiiity yieuv. The bus did nol give auy trouole on tiie juutuey. »v itncss estiinated tiie spoed after run aing down Lno slraighi t.-om TaJl'yiown iiiii, between 2o Lo 30 miles an lioui, Lhat being 011 a sbght decliue. Jli.Ji way aioug Ihe siraigat. he Tel t a bit Oi a bunix> in the steenug and ;iie bu.^ veercd Lo ihe letl. ULe weni to gyve the dus everything to the : .ght and il would not answer. " \s 1 puiled to the ngnt I appiied the brakos bul the steering t'ailed to respoiri and the bu» vvent olf the road aui almost immediately went over a severe buinp," he added. "1 tliink that tliis may havt icnocked my l'oot t'ron'i ihe I'rske as ihe vehicle did not show any tiyn of .jpulling up, " continueu Keily. Ha {.-(ided Lhat the bump occarredv after he passed a pot hole. !le ciille 1 oul to Ihe passengers and the next Jiing was the bus liit the bank. • \ ".Nr. y v.i