AN INQUEST

Hokitika Guardian, 6 July 1929, Page 3

AN INQUEST

MR. CUNLIFFE’S DEATH

CAR DRIVER EXONERATED

(Grey Star.)

GREYMOUTH, July 4. An inquest cj-.ncerniug the death ol the late Mr Thomas Lawrence L misay Cunliffe was held this morning in the Grej-nioutii Courthouse be.ore the district coroner, Mr W. Meltlrum b.M. •

Mr J. A. Murdoch appeared to watch proceedings bp behalf of the driver of tlie car and Mr H. F. Doogan on behalf of the relatives of deceased. Dr 'iV. A. Bird stated that lie had attended to deceased who was removed to hospital. He suffered from a blow on the head, there was contusion on the right hand side of the skull near the back, and a free haemorrhage from the left ear. There were signs of a fractured skull, and of laceration of the brain: Deceased did not recover consciousness and. died early the fol-

lowing morning. Walter ' James Radford, mining engineer of . Hokitika, said that at about 0.00 p.m. on Wednesday evening lie was driving his car southwards along High Street. It was a heavy five seater sedan, and he estimated the speed at 15 miles an hour. The brakes were in good condition, as he had demonstrated lateir.; to the police. The history of the accident was simply that as he was proceeding up the street near Jluccleugh Street there was no sign of anyone in front ; except that two cars were approaching. Just af ter the first car passed, a man appeared in front of witness’ car, about lb .'feet away. He was apparently travelling slightly towards the right hand side of the road. In order to avoid running into him witness applied his brakes and turned as sharply, as he could to the right. Apparently the fenders caught the cyclist’s rear wheel. Witness was unable to stop immediately owing to the approach of another car coming from the opposite direction. As soon as he reached the other side of the street, he stopped, jumped out and went back to the injure 1 man. His companion, Jones, then went to the hotel and telephoned for medical aid and the police. In reply to Sergeant Smyth, witness said that he first saw deceased when he came. partly within range of thb lights on his car and partly the lights of the second, approaching car; Deceased lmd no lights on his bicycle. In reply to Mr Murdoch witness said

that he had been on his correct sidb of the road, which at that place wak straight for some four or five'-blocks. Deceased had appeared from the left hand side. Had deceased been riding just in front of witness he must hart been seen. It was not a case of overtaking him, but possibly he was dazed by the lights of the'oncoming car as he crossed into tlie roadway. Subsequently witness had made a statement to the police ( arul b ; fid signed it. He had done all he could for the injured man, while Heaphy had attended to the case with considerable skill. Witness’ car lights were in perfect order, and witness could see nothing else for it but tljat deceased had ridden out from the side of the road in front of the car; The surface .of the road was gqpd and a cyclist could easily ride at 15 miles perhour. \ y • Replying to Mr jlcogan, witness said that deceased had been riding in the shadow on tiie left hand side and had seemingly swung to the right with the intention of turning to his own home.

which was on the left-hand side. It would have been quite possible for deceased to have been riding ahead of witness, but not within range of the lights. He could not say whether there was a reflector on the bicycle.. In reply to the Coroner witness said that visibility for driving was good, as the wind-screen had been cleaned just before starting on the trip. The car was a left hand drive.

Henry Jones, retired, of Hokitika, had been travelling in the car at the time of the accident, being seated alongside the driver. He stated that the car was running along nicely when the cyclist appeared suddenly on the left hand side. Witness corroborated the principal evidence concerning the attempt to stop and avoid colliding with the man. The only possible thing to do, to turn sharply to the right, had been done, and after the accident Radford had done ail possible. Witness did npt examine the bicycle, and did not now whether it was fitted with a reflector. Cyril Edgar Henphy was on the footpath when he heard a smash, then a crash and a hump. On looking into the roadway he noticed the car swing to the right in a zig zag course towards Ruccleugh Street.' He also noticed the form on the road. Witness immediately rendered first aid. The victim was bleeding freely from the left ear and he was unconscious. Later he appeared to develop paralysis of the right side, the only movement being with the left hand. Deceased had been lying with his head towards his house and he was about ten feet from the grass plot at the side of the road. The bicycle was about 12 feet away on the town side. Cross-examined, witness said that Radford and Jones had done all they possibly could after the accident. Witness also gave evidence of identification. j Arthur Leslie Owen, a taxi driver, stated that just before 6 o’clock he was driving along High Street, and when approaching Ruccleugh Street, he saw a car sworve across High Street, and witness had to swerve to avoid it, Passing on, he saw the form

of a man lying in the road, so he stopped and went back. Witness was not near enough for his car to have struck the man. The lights on the car driven by 'witness were stronger than on other cars. Dimming of lights when approaching another car is now prohibited.

Traffic Inspector A. J. Sloss said he visited the scene of the accident last evening, and he had taken measurements. He had also taken possession ot the bicycle, which had not been run over. It bore marks of having been struck by the fenders of the car. There vfas no front lamp on tinbicycle, which, however, was fitted with a rear reflector.

Examined by Mr Murdoch; witness seated that it was quite possible that lie cyclist was dazed by the lights .-•! the approaching car.

Mr Murdoch said that he had a reason in asking about the behaviour of the driver subsequent to the accident as there had been a statement in a newspaper account of the accident that the driver had not stoppi ft. 10 clear the position ho asked ’lie Inspector what had been the 1 pomt'oti aop the reply was that Radford I ad done everything possible after the accident. With reference to red reflecttors, witness said that they were quite all fight provided they were fitted to rear mudguards in an upright position. Tii the case in point the reflector was not so fixed, and it would throw the light sideways.

The Coroner returned a verdict that ti e deceased Thomas' Lawrence Lindsay Cunliffe came to his death at the Grey River Hospital on July 4 from a severe fracture at the base of the skull and laceration of the brain, the rcvilt of a collision between a not .r car driven bv Mr W. J. Radford, and a bicycle ridden by deceased in High Street, Greyinnuth, on July 3. The evidence disclosed that t.be accident was due not to any negligence on the p.art of the driver of the car, but to the fact that tlje deceased swerved in front of the car and was riding without a bead light or bis red reflector placed so as to reflect directly to the rear.