KUMARA TRAGEDY.

Grey River Argus, 1 March 1927, Page 2

KUMARA TRAGEDY.

Accidental Death. LORRY DRIVER .BLAMELESS. A n inquest eoiiuern ing the death of Leslie Gordon Dewe :iged three who was run over by a motor lorry at Kumara on Saturday was held yesterday morning before Air W. Meldruni S. Al. Leonard George Reginald Dewe, father of the child, said ho returned home from the Kumara Timber Workers picnic on a. lorry about 6.45, his wife and children being in another lorry driven by one Fit zgcr:i Id, who pulled of on the opposite side of the road. Witness took the deeeased off 1 he lorry and had just assisted his wife oil the other vehicle when ho heard some one sing out ‘‘look out lor the other lorry.” Just then he saw the child run out. from behind the standing lorrk low..rds one driven by a, driver named Fox, which was approaching. Witness ran after the boy, who apparently did not see the other lorry, but before he could reach him the

child struck the lorry between the front and back wheels. He put up his hands .•ind then fell under the lorry and under the rear back wheel which passed over him, killing him almost instantly. (ia.trich Fox said he approached the standing lorry at about 8 miles per hour. Just as he had passed Fitzgerald’s lorry he saw out of the tail of his eye something running towards the back of his lorry from the side of the road. Hu

thought, it must be caught by the back wheels and pulled up after driving past for a. few yards. Even if he had seen I he child he had no chance to avoid him as he must have run right under the back wheels.

Evidence was also given by Gerhard Pal rick Fit zgerald.

A verdict was returned to the effect that deceased was killed by being run over by a motor lorry, the driver of which was in no way to blame fur the accident.