OPEN VERDICT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 22 November 1927, Page 7

OPEN VERDICT

HUTT ROAD FATALITY EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST “MOST EXTRAORDINARY ACCIDENT.’’ Wellington, November 21. An inquest was continued on the death of Mrs Annie Eleanor Watson, a widow, of Kelburn, who met tier death on October 17 as the result of a motor ’bus, driven by John O’Callaghan, leaving the Hutt road bitumen track and colliding with a telegraph post. The coroner was Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M. The evidence showed that the 'bus travelled for 10S feet between leaving the bitumen track and colliding with the post, and 48 feet after the impact. Mrs E. Cousins, a passenger m the ’bus, said no complaint could be made of the driving, and the drivei neither talked to passengers nor smoked. Motor mechanics gave evidence el having examined the ’bus and found the steering gear in good order. Patrol Constable Morrison said there were no signs of the brakes having been applied between the time of leaving the bitumen and striking the post The driver, when spoken to after the accident, was perfectly normal, and said the wheel slipped out of his hand, and he did not complain about having hud an illness. DRIVER’S EVIDENCE. John O’CalJagban, driver of the 'bus, said he could give no explanation of how the smash occnred. He held a license to drive since September. 1926. but in May last went tu a sanatorium for ten weeks and resumed work on October 14. three days before the accident. He would take turns in the head for a second or two. but would not faint. Before the smash he was all right. He did not kpow that the ’bus had lei. the bitumen. Concerning his head turns a doctor had told him they were caused by fluid on the lungs. Witness said his eyesight was "oca. He never told his employers about the head turns. Medical evidence was given that on the day in question O’Callaghan was not physically tit to lie driving the ’bus. as he was subject to turns which would last for a few seconds. The coroner, Mr W. G. Riddell delivered an open verdict. Had medical evidence not shown that O’Callaghan was subject to turns, he said, it looked as if the ’bus had lieen negligently driven. The accident was most extraordinary. Mr Riddell found that deceased died lithe result of injuries receive through a . ’bus. in which she was riding, driven by John O’Callaghan, coming into collision with a telegraph .xili on the Hutt road, on October 17. “The question as to whether the driver was guilty of negligence can be tested in another place,’’ he said.