Farmer Killed

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 77, 23 December 1937, Page 5

Farmer Killed

HASTINGS SMASH Car and Lorry Collide at Intersection CRUSHED AGAINST WALL A light lorry and large sedan car met in Yiolent collision at the corner of Murdoch and Railway roads, Hastings, about 9 o'clock this morning, the accident resulting in the death of JOHN HENRY HOPCROFT, farmer, of Poukawa, aged 52, married, with a grown-up family. Thrown from his car by the impact Mr. Hopcroft was carried against a briek wall on the radiator of the other car which smashed part of the wall and came to rest in a hedge. Mr Hopcroft, who waa bringing a supply of fruit and vegetables to th# market from his small f arm at Poukawa, had driven along Murdoch. road, and was turning into Railway road toward the town when the accident occurred. A heavier car^ driven by Mr J. Puriri, a Maori, of Bridge Pa, met Mr Hopcroft 's car on the intersection, and in. the resulting coljision the sumner* car was brushed aside, and Mr Hopcroft thrown in front of the other. It appears that he was picked up by; the other vehicle, and carried against % brick wall just past the intersection, Several brick posts in the fence were broken, and, when the vehicle wai stopped by a hedge inside the fence^ Mr Hopcroft was dead underneatH it, It is understood that his neck wee broken^ and the lower part of his body. was vterribly lacerated. Mr Hopcroft, who was bringing a supply of fruit and vegetables to market, and had made a delivery in Murdoch road, was turning back into Eailway road, after crossing the lino, when the collision occurred with. tho other vehicle which was driven by Mr J. Puriri, fi Maori, of Bridge Pa. The lighter vehicle was overturned and thrown to tho joadside, while .the other continued on until pulled up by the brick wall and small hedge ot a bungalow garden. Mr Hopcroft wa# dead underneath the car. It is believed that his neck was broken and the lower part of his body terribly lacerated* After the arrival of the police on the scene, the body was removed to the morgue, and it is probable that tho district coroner, Mr G. Ebbett, J.P., will open an inquest this afternoon for the purpose of taking evidoace of identification. The intersection at which tho aceident occurred has been the scene of several accidents in the past. Xn tho earlier portion of this year, there wag a fatal accident at almost ihe samo spot.