TAXI-CAB ACCIDENT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 62, 6 December 1919, Page 16

TAXI-CAB ACCIDENT

THE THORNDON QUAY FATALITY

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST

iho inquest into iho circumstances attending the dealli of William JOilward horsier Natlrass, who died as a result of injuries received through being knocked down by a taxi-cab driven by John b'earon on Wednesday ' morning, was onenert by Mr. E. Page, S.M., at tho Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon. Detective-Sergeant Scott conducted the inquiry on behalf of iho police, Mr. H. F. O'Leary appeared on behalf of I'enron, and Mr. V. W. Jackson watched proceedings ■on behalf of the- relatives of tho deceased.

Beatrice Purcer, a sisler of tho deceased, gave evidence as to his health. As far as she knew ho was in good health, and both his hearing anu>eyesight were good, lie was a married man with five children, and was employed as a casual porter by the Hallway D'euartment.

James Alexander 11. Miller, telegraph linesman, euid that ho fot off a tram with tho deceased at the Thorndon terminus. He did not witness tho accident, but soon after he hart alighted lie heard tho horn of an approaching motorcar coming along the Hutt Koad from tho direction of Kaiwarra. Immediately following ho heard a bump, nnd on turning round saw tho deceased lying on the read.

To Mr. O'Leary: The taxi appeared (o bo travelling at a normal rate of speeo.'. In reply to tho Coroner/, witness was unable to say how. far the taxi travelled after striking deceased', becausoheran to his assistance.

Violet Cnrdno, residing at Eatanui, who was travelling' in the taxi at tho time of the accident, stated that she left Petonont about, twenty-five mintues to Ifl o'clock to keep an appointment with her solicitor. . She sat in tho front seat of the taxi with the driver, nnd noticed that the speed of the car was twenty(ivo miles an hour. As they neared tho Thorndon tram terminus speed was retfuccd, as a tram was discharging passengers, nnd Fenron sounded his horn three times. Tho deceased was standing still in the centre of the road, nnd at the third blast appeared to jump on to the front of iho car.

To tho Coroner: Tho deceased appeared to bo overcome by shock when lie lumped on to tho front of the taxi-cob.

In answer to Mr. Jackson, witness saiol that t]in accident happened a few minutes before 10' a.m. She first saw the deceased when he was getting off the tram, the taxi then being about 20ft. awav.

To Mr. O'Leary: When witness saw doceased, stand still 6he presumed that ho was waiting to let the taxi pass. Sho had driven in the same taxi with tho same driver before, and had always found him very careful ana' capable. On tho dav of tho accident ho was exercising particular care.

To the Coroner: Tho deceased appeared to iump towards the bonnet of tho car.

Stephen Pilcher, employed by' Munt, Cottroll. and Co. said that on tho morning in question lie was driving a motor lorry along tho Hutt Road towards town when a motor-ear passed him at a fast rate of SDeetf. Ho did not know who tho driver of tho motor-car was. He watched tho car's progress, and saw the back of tha car swerve violently to the left. Immediately following tho swerve ho noticed a man being thrown into the air. Witness then hurried to the scene of tho accident, and rendered assistance. He. did not seo deceased before ho was struck. He considered that tho speed of the motor-car when it passed him was between 35 and 40 miles per hour.

To Mr. Jackson: The distance from where tho taxi passed him to where tho accident happened was about two hundred and thirty yards.

To Mr. O'Leary: Witness had travelled about' two and a half chains after the motor-car passed him, when ho saw tho aceioent happen.

Harry Preston, motorman, ' employed by the city tramways, who was driving the tram on which deceased travelled in, said that ho saw the motor-car approach from the direction of Kaiwarra. The driver of thi taxi sounded his horn, and was travelling at a "tremendous speed." As soon as the car passed ho heard a bump, and saw deceased thrown in tho air. The speed of the taxi was between'thirty-five and forty miles per hour. The taxi travelled up Lower Tinakori Eoad after striking deceased— a distance of about a chain and a half from tho actual spot. The deceased spoke when witness approached him, and said "Where's my saw?" 'Someone then asked deceased how the folt, but he refused to sneak, and only groaned. The driver of the car was then called, and stated that Mrs. Cardno drew his attention to the speed of the car, which was between twenty and twenty-five mile's an hour. Ho passed a lorry which was travelling on the wrong side of tho roao', and as he approached the tram terminus hn sounded his horn; and slackened his sneed as he saw three men standing on the road. When he blew the horn a third time he wns almost level with the men. and deceased jumped forwarrt, and as he did so lie Rave a yell. Witness intended to go up the hill, and was about to accelerate, but Tefrained from doing so when hi saw t\u tram and the passeneers. After he sounded the horn a secono' time the action of the pedestrians led him to believe, that they knew that he was going up the hill, and he therefore accelerated. His speed then was botween twenty and twenty-five miles Mr hour. He did not apply his brakes when he struck deceased, but swnrved to the right.

To Mr. O'Leary: Two men who saw live accident' had not been called, but at tlint time it was not evident that o'ecni«orl wa« seriously injured.

To Mr. Jackson: It did not appear that the sudden third blast of the horn caused the deceased to jump forward.

Police Constable, .Tames Carmody gavo formal evidence. The oistanec between tho spot of.the accident and where. Hie car pulled up was Gflft.

At this stage the inquest was adjourned till 2.15 p.m. on Monday, for the purnose of hearing medical evidence.