YOUTH AND SPEED

Hokitika Guardian, 16 December 1930, Page 8

YOUTH AND SPEED

ACCIDENTS inevitable. COAIMENT AT AN INQUEST. AUCKLAND, December 12. 'the accident on the Mangere Speedway on December 1, When a racing motor-car known as the “Sutherland Special” capsized on a bend and the mechanic, William Kendall Simmonds, aged twenty-one years, of Onehunga, received fatal injuries, was investigated by the Coroner, Air Hunt, S.M., at an inquest held at Onehunga. The Coroner’s finding was that death was due to injuries received when Simmonds was accidentally thrown from the car. The driver of the car, William Atbelstone Hindley, aged twenty-three years said lie was a motor-driver in the employ of the firm of Sutherland and Pearson. At about 5.30 p.m. on December 1 he had driven the “Sutherland Special” on to the speedway for practice, deceased being with him in the mechanic’s seat. AVhen it was travelling at a speed of 50 miles an hour'the car got in a broadside and the wheels ran into tracks made by cattle. There was little available room to straighten the skid, as part of the'track was marked off by barrels. All the weight of the car was thrown on the front; and the right-hand front wheel dug into some soft ground. The vehicle then turned over, deceased being thrown out on the track. Witness was thrown out but was not injured. The track was dry and in good order, hut the use of part of it was restricted by drums, which had been placed 27'ft from the inside, leaving a width of 30ft on the outside for use. “T am sure that there was no defect in the car, which was in perfect running order,” concluded witness. “As long as we have youth and these fast machines we will have accidents,” remaked the Coroner.