MOTOR DEFECT

Hokitika Guardian, 7 May 1930, Page 4

MOTOR DEFECT

FATAL CONSEQUENCES

(By Telegraph—Press Association)*

,> WELLINGTON, May 6.v The inquest into'the deaths of Mr and Mrs Norman'W. Cook, who were killed when their motor car, after colliding with anothef, fell into a cfeelc below the NgahaUriifiga Gorge Road oh the afternoon of. -April ’l3th. was l'resumed to-day. Alfred 1 Edward Storey, * driver of the'eaT ’fvhich collided with that driven by Mr' Cook, said that he was passing another car when he saw Mr Oook’s car appearing round a bend.: Mr Cook’s car Wa's'then only a few yards ahead, and had not previously • been in view of'witness. Mr Cookwna on his right side 1 W the road, and it looked as if he had', 1 Plenty of. room to* pass witness. Witness was in the ben« tre of the r6ad. "The impact of the two cars was not .severe, and witness stopped immediately. When witness alighted, Mr Cooß’s car had fallen over the bank. '.Witness, had been driving for 18 years.', . (. ' . • v / ( , . George Rigyard-moW mechanic, said that when Mi' car was recovelr- •v----ed, it was found that'the steering gear was jammed to a hand lock. An examination to be due to a. mechanical defect, £t„ appeared to have been caused by ,a blow. It appeared tiiat someone had been working on the. affected part before : the accident,, The car could have bee,n driven straight* forward despite that damage, but could not have been (turned to the lerts.

The inquest was further adjourned until Thursday. .; p -j.