Preventible Accidents

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 119, 5 April 1892, Page 4

Preventible Accidents

Two melancholy fatal accidents have occurred within the past week or ten days, both of which might easly have been avoided by the observance of the simplest ot simple precautions. In one case, an old lady, whilst being; driven home to Wainui-o-mata from "Wellington by her son, was killed by the capsizing of the express in whijh she was riding. There can be no reasonable doubt that had the vehicle been furnished with lamps, Virs Sandilanris would still have been j alive. The other fatality occurred near Auckland, and was even more melancholy, ior a bride, Mrs Stock, was killed whiles being taken to her new home by her husband. Ihe road on which Mr Stock was driving was, under ordinary conditions, about fifteen feet wide at the fatal spot, but at the time of the accident, it had been narrowed to about nine feet, owing to repairs which were being carried out under contract. When Mr Stock, who was familiar with the road in its normal state, thought his trap was about the middle, he found himself and his bride suddenly precipitated over a steep embankment sixteen feet high. He managed to jump clear himself, but his young wife was caught under the trap and killed. Had he carried lights, as he sb«uld have done, he would not be a •widower. Had the contractor placed a light at the dangerous spot, as he was bound by law to do, in all human probability the accident would never ' have occurred. Mr Stock may sue tbe contractor or the Road Roaad for damages, bat if he do, the jury will not improbably find that he himself was guilty of contributory negligence. If a light should have been kept burning at the dangerous embankment, he also should have had lighton his trap. The lessons taught are twofold. Firstly, no man should driye on a dark night without lights; and, secondly, every couiracter carrying on road work ougnt to keep li^hrs burning at all risky places.— Press.