DOUBLE FATALITY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 100, 30 April 1930, Page 9

DOUBLE FATALITY

GOBGE KOAD ACCIDENT,

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST

An inquest - was opened' yesterday afternoon on Norman Webb Cook and Violet Amelia Cook, of Johnsonville, who were killed as a result of an accident in Ngahaurahga Gorge oe 13th April. Ths Coroner was Mr. T. B. M'Neil, S.M:. Mr. H. H. Cornish, with him Mr. N. A. Foden, appeared for Alfred Edward Storey, driver of the n:.otor-ear which collided with that driven by Mr. Cook, and Mr. J. C. Peacock represented the relatives of the deceased. SubInspcctcir Lopdell conducted the inquest. Patrick Coffin, a storeman, .gave evidence that about 2.30 p.m. on 13th April ho was driving up the gorge- road at about 15 miles per hour. Near tho top, Storey's car overtook him at about 20 miles per hour, and at the same time witness saw Cook's car coining down. All three were practically abreast when a collision took place between Storey's car, which was on the right of tho white centro line, and Cook's car, which was well over on its left side. Witness did'nofseo Cook's car after the impact until it was lying in the creek. When Storey stopped ho was still on the centre line. / A BAD CORNER. In reply to Mr. Peacock, witness said that he first saw Cook's ear as ho rounded the bend. That was when Storey was level with him (witness). The corner was a bad one. Mr. Peacock: "I take it,' then, that when Storey was level with you, being over on his wrong side, ho probably w.ould have been unabJo to see Cook as aoon as you?"—" No." Mr. Cornish: "I suppose when you got out and saw Cook^s car over tho bank you were very much surprised?" —"I was. I never thought it would go over." "It seems really an extraordinary result for what took place?"— ; "lt does." "Assuming a down-coming car with a good braking system, the most you would expect from such an impact would bo a crumpled mudguard or something liko that?"'—("Exactly." After the impact Cook's car travelled an appieciable distance ■ before going over tho bank. The damage to Storey's ear was very slight, and. suggested a glancing blow. "Did you see anything to suggest that Cook suddenly braked his" ear?" —"No." "At what speed did you think lie was travelling?"—"l had no idea." Witness added that he did not think the impact caused the deceased to go over the bank. He did not see how he could have if ho had braked his car properly. Tho impact might havo swung his car round and headed it for the bank. "But there a good driver with good . brakes should have ended the matter?" —"That is what I can't understand. He should not have- gone, down the bank." Dr. W. P. Shirer said that when he arrived on the scene, a few minutes . after the accident, Mrs. Cook was dead as a result of a fractured skull, and Cook was suffering from severe chest injurien and shock. Witness considered.. that the chest injuries could havo been received only when the car went info the gully. John W. Foley, coal dealer, of Wellington, said that ho was driving up the gorge shortly before the accident, with) several ears in front of and be- ■ hind him. All were travelling at about 20 miles per hour. Cook passed him on his correct sido and close to tho bank at-about the same speed. Looking in his driving mirror,-witness saw one of the cars behind him pull out. After the accident Storey spoke- to witness, saying that the mishap was a. terrible thing. Witness replied that it was time drivers stopped cutting-in on bends. Witness considered that to pull out of tho. line of cars was dangerous at that point. A QUESTION OF SPEED. Mr. Peacock: "Is there room at that point for three cars to travel abreast?" —"I should say it. is a question of speed." In reply to Mr. Cornish, witness said that he was not surprised that a collision took place, but ho was surprised to -see- Cook's car down in the gully. "Do you not think that if his brakes had been acting, properly and he had applied them when ho saw Storey, hecould have pulled up?"—" Not unless . his mind had acted very quickly." "Supposing that his brakes were good, would they not- havo pulled him . up before ho got to the culvert?"— „ "Yes." "So that prompt braking by Cvok when he first saw Storey probably would not have avoided tho impact, but would have avoided the accident?"— "Yes." -• ■• "Do you think that as a. result of the impact Cook lost control of his * car!" —Witness replied that in. his opinion the steering-gear on Cook's car locked and pulled the car over, and ho deliberately let it run on instead of braking. . A. Bayly, grocer, of Lower Hutt, brother of Mrs. Cook, said that Cook was a competent driver. His hearing and eyesight were good. Ho had never heard Cook speak • about tho steering gear locking or any other mechanical trouble. The inquest was' adjourned until Tuesday afternoon . next.