A MOTOR VICTIM

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1930, Page 3

A MOTOR VICTIM

SUSPICIONS AT INQUEST

(By Telegraph—Press Association)

CHRISTCHURCH, July 8. The adjourned inquest into the death of William Frederick Irving, who died on.--Lincoln Road on the evening of June 13th. from injuries evidently sustained by being struck by a motor vehicle, Was concluded before Mr Mosley, S.M. to-day. Beside Irving’s body lay a badly smashed bicycle. ■ Witnesses gave evidence of two motor lorries having passed over the road just;before Irving was found in a: dying condition. One witness, Herbert Edward Brandon, said that he heard a sound as if of a bicycle being struck. The driver of: the truck seemed to release his accelerator, and then went on again. Witness concluded when the . lorry went on, that nothing untoward had happened

Neville Clarence Bell and Trevor Henry Buckell, both drivers of motor trapks belonging to Bell and Sons. Akaroa, gave evidence that both had passed over the road at about the timp of the accident. Both denied having seen a cyclist or having struck a cyclist. After Buckell had given evidence, the Coroner said: “From the evidence of the witness Brandon, it appears that either your lorry or Bell’s caused the accident, and I don’t- think it was Bell’s.”

The Coroner said-that there was not sufficient evidence to bring in a verdict free from doubt. He returned an open verdict.