INQUEST VERDICT

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1932, Page 8

INQUEST VERDICT

OTIRA gorge fatality

LATE MR WILLIAM BOWDEN

OTIRA, May 23.

The inquest on Wlijam Bowden, of Ashburton, who was killed in a motorcar accident ill the Otira Gorge on .vlnrch 25, was completed before Mr M. Fitzgerald, J.P., Acting-Coroner, and a jury of four. Constable C. Robb, of Otira, represented the police. John H'iLiiaitn Bowden, -on of deceased, gave .evidence to the effect that he was driving tile ear. His father was in the front seat and his mother in the back seat. They were proceeding down the Gorge Hill in low gear when the car appeared to be going too fast. He pulled on the hand brake and the car kidded towards the bank. He then released the brake, when the car appeared to get away very fast. He thought that the gears had stripped and he turned the car into the bank and struck a protruding rock. The car overturned. Deceased opened the door and tried to jump out just a 5 the car was turning over. Tine car caught him half in and half out of the front door and pinned him to the ground, killing him instantly.’ To Constable Robb : My father caked out as the car was falling, “Jack, I am crushed.” Witness .said he had been driving for over twenty years.

Christina• Bowden, wife of deceased, said she did not see her husband fall '•ut a ; the car was turning over. She did not 'hear him call out. She was imprison'd in the car and could not get out until her son got her out- of the driver’.* window. She was quite sat’sfled that her husband was dead when ehe got to him. Constable Charles Robb, of Otira. stated that he recovered the body and conveyed it to Otira. He examined the car and found the gear in neutral. The hand brake was half on. About eight feet from the back of the car was a distinct mark of two wheels skidding for about six feet. The position" of the body was half in and half out of th' front door, caught by the lr'ps, lV'ng on his ieft side. The herd and chest were crushed and the left thigh wa.< broken. Next morning he again exarniiiod end tested the car. He found t' l ' gear in perfect order. Both brakes were sufficient to hold the oar on an ordinary hill. .He urove. the car an found it in perfect condition. A verdict was returned that deceased .Vas k'lled in a motor-car acc-Clont and *]).’t no bl-me was attachable to the driver of the car.