A FATAL INJURY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3678, 16 August 1927, Page 3

A FATAL INJURY.

CONSCIOUS '.THOUGH BRAIN

PENETRATED,

Wellington, Last Night.

A somewhat remarkable incident occurred in the early morning of August 5 after a motor-car driven by James Hargreaves, of 4 Karori Street, Miiramar, collided with a City Corporation milk cart, driven by William Patrick O’Gorman. The story told of Victor Wilde Smith, a married man, aged 31, of 4 Karori Street, Miramar, who was an occupant of the car and who died on August 10 from the result of his injuries, was that with a dent in his head as big as an average fist, with a bad fracture on the skull, and with a bone driven some inches into the brain, he yet could tell his friends that lie was feeling alright and could walk away. He was found later in Kilbirnie tramway shed. According to the inquest to-day Smith was quite conscious when he was admitted to the hospital on August 5 and after an operation he rallied for a few days but died not long after the second operation. The evidence showed that deceased, Hargreaves, and some others in the car had been to a dance paity. Port wine was drunk but the driver and deceased were sobei. When the collision occurred both cars and the milk wagon were on the wrong side of the road going in the same direction and Hargreaves said he was travelling at 15 miles an hour and did not see the milk ■cart, which lie contended had no lights until too late to avoid a collision. O’Gorman said that his vehicle had lights. The night was very wet and visibility was poor. As it was possible that theie might be an action for negligence a- , gainst the 'City Council, Coroner E. Page, S.M., said he would not comment on the evidence beyond saying that apart from being on the wrong side of the road neithei party appeared to be negligent. His verdict was that deceased died on August 11 from injuries received in a collision at Kilbirnie on August 5.