SANDON MOTOR FATALITY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2138, 10 June 1920, Page 3

SANDON MOTOR FATALITY.

THE CORONER’S FINDING.

AN OPEN VERDICT,

The inquest concerning the deaths of Arthur E. Eglinton, Alfred E. Penny, and Frank Kidman, 'which followed a collision on the Sandon road on May 20th last, was concluded at Palmerston on Monday.

The Coroner said the evidence in this case was very'-difficult indeed. That given by the surviving persons who Avere in Mr Eglinton’s- car and by Mr Eglinton, junr., Avas emphatic in stating that the lights Avere burning in Eglinton’s car, ami that it Avas on the correct side of the road, Avhile the evidence of the five persons in Newth’s car Avas that Eglinton’s car had no light, and some of them stated that it avus on the wrong side of the road. It seemed a miraculous thing that one car should he coming along and crash into another car, even if it had no lights, and that the first thing to be knOAvn avus the crash itself. It seemed to him that an experienced driver looking out could not fail to see another car at least a few yards before l lie reached it.

The evidence given regarding the position of Eglinton’s egr, continued the coroner, strongly pointed to it being on the correct side of the'road. Evidence had been given by several Avitncsses that Unit was so, and Mr Mitchell, avlio Avas a disinterested Avihiess, and whose car was (he first on the scene, said that this Avas so. He (the coroner) found that Eglinton’s car was on its right side, and that up to a minute before the crash occurred Eglinton’s car had its lights burning. As to the speed at which the cars were travelling, it avus difficult to come to a conclusion on that point, as the evidence A'aried very much, but he could assume that Eglinton’s car could not have got up much pace as it had been at a standstill 39(1 yards away. The other car was travelling at a speed of 25 miles an hour, and probably more. There’was no other evidence of the speed except the time taken in (travelling from the racecourse, but that was not reliable, as they could not tell exactly what time the car loft. Wanganui, or what time it stopped at Turn kina. He did not think the pace could JiaA'c been more than 27 to 30 miles an hour Tight throughout the journey. He did not consider that 30 miles an hour, or even a little over, was excessive in that particular place, and there was nothing to show Avhal the pace Avas except that given by those in Xewth’s car, and they Avere agreed that it avus from 25 to 30 miles. He (the coroner) did think that there was a failure on the part of the driver of NeAvth’s car to keep a proper lookout, as it avus quite clear lo his (the coronei*’s) mind that EglintonV. car lights Avere lit Avhon he left his gate. If the other driver had taken ordinary care he must have seen the lights and have been prepared. Therefore he found that there a\t.s some

NEGLIGENCE SHOWN ON THE PART OF NEWTH

in failing to keep ;i proper look-out, Under the circumstances, all there was for him as coroner to do was to brill”' in an open verdict that the deceased died from injuries sustained in a motor collision at Sanson on Mav 20th.

■ The coroner added that he would like to remark on the reckless driving which undoubtedly was carried cm throughout the country, and which caused the accidents they read 'about so often. To his mind these accidents were (he result of recklessness or carelessness. It was very necessary that srtme action should be taken, to prevent reckless driving, for if a man drove slowly and carefully there would be no accidents. If the authorities took action these painful accidents that they were so constantly hearing of would be at least minimised.