STRUCK BY MOTOR-CAR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 184, 30 April 1919, Page 8

STRUCK BY MOTOR-CAR

DEATH OP A BOY., . - 'An:'inquest wns held by Mr. F.. Frazer, S.M., yesterday touching the deatli of- a boy named Erio Shapcott, who died at the Hospital on Sunday night trorn injuries caused through being run over by a motor-car driven by SurgeonColonel j. P. Leahy on the Hutt Koad on the previous Tuesday.. ■ Mr. A. W. Blair appeared for Colonel Lenby and Sir. Hay tor the father of the deceased boy. Sergeant Wade conducted tho proceedings on behalf of tho police. Medical testimony was given that death was due to fracture of tho skull. t Evidence was given by Walter Hill, an eve-witness of the accident, that ho saw the deceased with another boy walking on tho footpath '• near Kaiwarra. Colonel Leahy was coming from the direction of I'etone and was proceeding at a moderate pace on tho proper side of tho road. When tho motor-car got abreast of a motor wagon tho deceased stepped oft tho footpath right in front of the motor-car. "Shapcott was then looking in tho opposite direction. Twice witness called, to him to "Look out!" but apparently the boy did not hear him, find was knocked do\Mi»Evidently tho boy had not seen the car. Colonel Leahy was too close to the toyto avoid the mishap. He pulled up within three car lengths. . Colonel Leahy stated that he was only proceeding at tho rate of twelve miles per hour at the time of the accident, and was about 4ft. or sft. : .away ftom the pavement. There were two children 011 the footpath, and suddenly one of them stepped oft' the pavement. The civ struck him and knocked'him down. Witness milled up, rendered what assistance ho could, and took the boy to the Hospital. Ho did not sound his horn as the children showed no signs of leaving the P& ve ' ment, which was - quite wide. Witness had been driving a car for rnaay years, and had never had an accident before. • The Coroner returned a .verdict of "Accidental death." He said ho did not think Dr. Leahy could have assumed that the boy would cross the road, and his failure to sound the horn could not be described as negligcuce. No blame was , attachable to him. 1 '