FATAL MOTOR ACCIDENT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 268, 6 August 1920, Page 7

FATAL MOTOR ACCIDENT

SUFFOCATION CAUSES TWO DEATHS. ' 'Bjr Telwaph —Spocial OorreiDondcnt. 1 Mastertpn, August 5. Mr. E. G. Eton, District Coroner, con J. ducted an inquest at Tinfli to-day on! the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Wil-' ; ton, of Eangitumau,' who met their; deaths in a motor accident whilst raturning from a wedding at Tinui on' Wednesday. . John Edwin Duckett, farmer, who, to> gether with his wife and two .children,' occupied the back seat of the car, gave> evidence that when about three miles ,on this side of Tinui the car was not running too well. When negotiating a bend in the road the car got out of control, left the track, and ran into eom#i fern. The engine stopped, and the : brakes were applied, but the car oom- 1 menced to run backr-there being a' grade on yie toad—find fell over the bank, turning jjver several times before, reaching-the bottom. Witness.-who was unhurt, extricated his wife and children. > Ho had to obtain a wire-cutter and a file from the house of E. Sohofiold nearby before the bodies of tho two deceased could be released. In witness's opinion, the accident was caused by defoctivo. benzine causing the car to stop and run down the hill. A verdict was given fn accordance with the evidence of Dr. Cowie, that dentil in both oases was duo to suffocation, no' blame being attachable to anyone.