FATAL COLLISION

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 7, 1 October 1937, Page 5

FATAL COLLISION

Boy Cyclist Knocks Down Pedestrian death of mr j. donnelly Mr James Donuelly. a well-known resident of Havelock North, was fatally injured yesterday when he was knocked down by a 14-year-old boy cycling to school. Mr Donuelly, who Avas a widowet, was aged 78. Although his injuries were not serious and lie remained alive until eveningi, his ago was a bar to recovery. Tho inquest into the death of Mr Dounelly was opened this morning before the district coronc-r, Mr G. Ebbett, J.P. Evidence of identification was given by the eon of tlie deceased, Mr Neil Patrick Donuelly, farmer, of Havelock North. William Patterson Guthrie, a pupil of the Hastings High Sohool, said that at about 8.40 a.m. yesterday when he was riding] past the Havelock North police station he knocked down Mr Donnelly. He was at the time hurrying, and had his head down. Mr Donnelly struck his head on the bitumen and rolled over on to his face. Witness fell from his bicycle and landed ou the metal. portion of the fall. Mrs Gunn, a schoolteacher, came road, hurting his head and back in his up. and assisted thern. Mr Donnelly was duzed at the timo, but he recovered ' and sat up, after which he was placed in a cur and taken Lorne. Graco Minnie Gunn, gchoolteacher, of Havelock North, eorroborated. Constable B. Earquharson said that tho deceased had resided with his inarried son, Mr Neil Donnelly, in Hastings stroet, Havelock North, for a nuinber of years. After the accident he had been taken kome and a doctor sumiaoned, but when the doctor arrived be found that Mr Donnelly had had a stroke aud ordered him to ihe Hastings Soldiers' Memorial Hospital at once. He did not rally and passed away at 6.15 last nigihfc, After hearing medical evidence by Dr. Comrie, the coron.er returned a verdiet that Mr Donnelly 's death was due to a haemorrhage of the brain, but that the post-mortem examination failed to disclose that the accident had been the cause of the haemorrhage.