MOTOR KILLS MAN

Hokitika Guardian, 26 October 1928, Page 6

MOTOR KILLS MAN

DRIVER EXONERATED

(By Telegraph—Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Oct. 25,

The inquest Avas concluded to-day on Samuel Sloan Oliver, of Hastings, who was knocked doAvn on Thorndon Quay early on the morning of October 6th. by a motor car driven by William Wilson Carter, foreman of Hie General Motors, Petone, and avlh> died in the hospital from a fracture of the skull and haemorrhage of the brain.

The evidence was to the effect that the driver of tlie motor car, Avas returning from a banquet at the Grand Hotel, Avhere he had had drinks, but they had no effect on his capacity as a driver.

The police said he shoived no effects of drink.

The place of the accident, although Avell lighted, had several shadoAVs about it, and deceased appeared to come out of one into the beam of the car. When he was seen it was too late. Deceased appeared to lurch forward on to the car.

Coroner E. Page, S.M., said: It is a fact that a person moving from alternate lights and shades is not visible to the driver of a motor car until he enters the ham of* the motor’s headlights.” Many people, he added, did not knoAv this, and imagined that because a street Avas lighted by overhead lamps, they could be seen the . whole time they were crossing the road, Avhereas such was not the case. He found deceased was- accidentally killed through being knocked down by a motor car in the early hours of the morning of October 6th. In his view, the evidence fell short of establishing criminal liability' on the part of the drtoer.