DISTRESSING ACCIDENT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5339, 15 October 1928, Page 2

DISTRESSING ACCIDENT.

TWO MEN ON MOTOR-CYCLE. ONE RIDER KILLED. While coming to Paeroa on Saturday night on a mot'or.-cycle a. young man panned Keith Barnett Lockett, aged 23 years, was killed, and Donald Fro.,t was severely injured. Tliq accident occurred about 6.30 q’clock on Saturday on Thames Rqad in front of Mr. G. Vowles’ farm, pbout four miles from Paeroa. and op the Hikutqia sjide of what is known as the Long Swamp. There were no eye-witnesses of the accident, but it is thought that it wp,s caused by the bursting of the back tyre of the m'otqi’-cycle. Lockett was thought to have been driving the machine, while Frost was pillion-riding. The fln-,t to discover the; accident wag, Mr D. Clotworthy, a farmer residing in a house a,bout 200 yards from the scene of the accident. Hearing an engine making an unusual noise lie went out tq investigate. He communicated with the policq, who quickly arrived l on the scene accompanied by Dr. Little. It was found that Lockett had been killed outright, haying been thrown on his forehead qn to a boulder, hl the drain. Frtost wiajs, unconscious,, and had received a brqkein pose, a broken arm, and abrasions. Arrangements were made for the removal of Frost ito- the Tharna; Hospital, and the body of Lockett was brought to Paeroa. The two; young men were returning from Thames, where Lockett’s, parents reside. The news qf the death of Keith Lockett on Saturday caused quite a gloom to be cast over the town. The deceased was a popular footballer, being a member of the Pirates Club and a,lso a, Thames Valley representative. The s,oc,ial function which was to have been-held by the East Football Club that -night was postponed CORONER’S INQUEST. An -inquest wap opened .this, momii<g, befeye Mr F. E. Flatt, Coroner. The father of deceased, Mr C. B. Lockett, Public W°rks overseer, of Thames* gave evidence of identification. He stated that deceased was 23 years of. age, and., was assistant timekeeper for the Public Works Department. In this capacity deceased had to use a motor-cycle. Witness said he did not see his son on Saturday, but had since learned that he had been, at Thames. Dr. Little said that in answer tq a telephone message on Saturday at 6.4'5 he went to Komata in company, with Constable -McClinchy. On arrival he found deceased lyinfc on the Thapnes road. He. had an, extensive wound on the forehead, fractured skull, fracture of the nose, abrasions o;n both sides, qf the; face and on both hands and both knees. He tho.ught that death had been instantaneous, and was due to s,h'oc,k following head injuries. He also rendered first-aid to' Mr Donald Frost and senft h'im to the Thames Hospital. He saw the niqtor-cyelc with the; back tyre dttwn and I 'the forks broken, and also two lots of blood, one in the ditch on the eastern side of the read and the other 10ft to 12ft away and about 3ft frqm the water channel. Where the flrsjt clot of blood was found there- was a large stone which, if deceased had struck it, would be sufficient tq cause the injuries described. From his observations, and judging by the wounds, the cycle must have been going fairly fas,t. s'.. The inquest was then adjourned sine die.