KUMARA TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 1 March 1927, Page 1

KUMARA TRAGEDY

ACCIDENTAL DEATH VERDICT. An inquest concern ing the death of Leslie Gordon Dewe, aged three, who was run over hv a motor lorry at Kumara on Saturady was held yesterday morning before .Afr AA T . Meldrum S.M. ' ’ Leoniard George • Reginald" Dewe, father of the child, said lie returned home from the Kumara Timber AVorkers picnic on a lorry about 6.45, his wife and children being in another lorry- driven by one Fitzgerald, who pulled up on the opposite side of the road. AA'itne.ss took the deceased off the lorry and had just assisted his wife off the other vehicle when he heard some one sing out “look out for the other lorry.” Just then he saw the child run out from behind the standing lorry towards one driven by a driver named Fox, which was approaching. AVitness ran after the boy, who apparently did not see the other lorry, hut before lie could reach him the child struck the lorry between the front and back wheels. He put up his hands and then fell under the lorry and under the rear back wheel which passed over him, killing him almost instantly.

Patrick Fox said lie 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. He thought it must be caught by the back wheels and pulled up after driving past for a few yards. Even if he li’ad seen the, child lie had no chance to avoid him as he must have run right under the hack wheels. Evidence was also given by Gerhard Patrick Fitzgerald. A verdict was returned to the effect that deceased was killed by being run over by a motor lorry, tbe driver of which wias in no way to blame for the accident.