A LAD’S TRAGIC DEATH

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 80, 28 December 1921, Page 4

A LAD’S TRAGIC DEATH

FATAL FALL FROM BICYCLE ON A DANGEROUS ROAD IN KILBIRNIE An inquest was held yesterday morning by Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., into the circumstances causing tho death of Edmund 11. Foster, 15 years of age, who in cycling down Hamilton Road, Kilbirnie, apparently lost control of his machine and collided with a telegraph post. Hamilton Road was described as dangerous, for it is very steep and just where the accident occurred there is a sharp turn, with a telegraph post at tho corner. It was at this point that the accident happened, Dr. P. H. Robinson said he had examined the body of deceased on Monday and found a wound on the right side of the forehead. The cause of death was fracture of the skull.

Arthur A. Adams, draper, residing at 34 Hamilton Road, said that on Christmas Day his attention was directed to the lad, who was injured. He was lying directly opposite the house occupied by witness near -a telegraph post. After some trouble they managed to get hold of Dr. Robinson, and the lad was removed to the hospital in a .motor car. Witness said that the road was both steep and dangerous at that point and numerous accidents had occurred thereabouts. There was a stiff breeze blowing at tho time of the accident, and this would accelerate the speed of the bicycle. Eli Foster, cabinetmaker, father of the deceased, said his son was 15 years of age, and had been employed as a telegraph messenger. The lad was in the habit of using a bicycle and was a good rider. Witness last saw him alive about 5 p.m. on Christmas Day. The lad had been busy delivering telegrams. He was in splendid health. Witness added that be had inspected Hamilton Road and found that it was steep fur about 150 yards -and fell away towards the telegraph post, which he considered was in a dangerous position. Constable Price, stationed at Kilbirnie, said he knew the locality of the accident very well. Owing to the steepness of the road and tho sharp turn where the accident happened, ho thought it was very dangerous. The post was in a dangerous spot, at the corner of the elbow and at the steepest part of the road. Representations had been, made to. the City Council about the road and he understood that plans had been prepared for improving it but so far nothing had been done. Other accidents had occurred ip the locality.

The Coroner, said that the deceased lad had occasion to go into Kilbirnie in the course of his duties as a telegraph messenger and was riding a bicycle. He was apparently a good rider, and the brakes on his machine were in perfect order. He was seen riding down the hill at a fast pace and there was a strong wind blowing, which must have helped to increase - the speed of the bicycle. The road had been described as dangerous, with a sharp turn in it, falling away inwards, and drivers had difficulty in getting round. It was a dangerous road for those riding bicycles down hill. Taking all tho circumstances into consideration he thought it was reasonable to suppose that what happened was that when tho lad was about to round the corner he lost control of his machine, accidently crashed into the telegraph post, and the injuries he received were such that ho died immediately afterwards. Complaint had been made as to the dangerous character of tho road, and he thought- the complaint was a proper one. Ho advised ihe residents to approach the City Council again on the matter, os it was the duty of the. Council to see that the road' W as made safe for ordinary traffic. The finding was that drath was due to injuries received through coming in contact with a telegraph post at a dangerous corner in Hamilton Road.