“EXCESSIVE SPEED.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3758, 23 February 1928, Page 4

“EXCESSIVE SPEED.”

MARANGAI HILL SMASH,

TWO FATALITIES THROUGH

ACCIDENT. At Wanganui on Monday, Mr. J. J. Pilkington, acting-coroner, conducted an, inquiry into the death of David Hector McKenzie, of Wellington, and William John Earle, of Khand'allah, who were killed in a motor accident on"the evening of February 15 on Marangai Hill. The coroner returned a verdict, after hearing the evidence, that McKenzie met his death through the accidental overturning of a car, driven at an excessive speed, and that Earle met his death through the accidental overturning of a car which he was driving. The coroner added that these unfortunate young men had paid the penalty for rashness. They were undoubtedly driving at a very excessive speed. It was a good thing that they did not also cause the death of other people. Motorists who drove 40 miles an,hour round a turn were a menace to other motorists on the road.

Thomas Quirke, a motor mechanic. said that on February 15 he was driving from Turakina to Wanganui. Shortly before 6 o’clock he was appro afehing the Marangai Hil when a car overtook and passed him at about 35 to 40 miles m hour. He saw the ear swing putwards as it rounded the bend. , CAR DISAPPEARED.

When /he reached the bend he looked for the car, and as it was not on the road he pulled up and •looked into the paddock and there saw it on its wheels 85 or 100 yards down the bank. It was badly smashed.

•Further investigation revealed two men badly smashed about, and a third man, although dazed, was not badly injured. Witness then set about to obtain assistance. He considered the corner a safe one to take at Jr reasonable speed. Senior-Sergeant C. W. Lopdell said the car was about 100 yards down in a paddock. The face was clear grass, free from scrub and in places very steep. The car had swung right out to the driver’s right hand, side as far as the road was negotiable, and as it was brought round to the left the rear wheels skidded outwards.

The car from this point took a long angle across the road for about 50 yards, when the weight of the car appeared to be on the righthand side wheels. By this time the car was nearly into the left bank on the inside of the road. Then, as if to prevent a threatened roll over to the right, a turn was taken to the right and the car took another long straight angle over the road, clearing the high built up camber on the right or outside of the road and leaving the road, crossing over the fence and struck the ground the first time about 60 feet down. SOMERSAULTING.

Witness thought the front of the radiator struck the ground first, as if the car was somersaulting. It then struck the ground as if upside down about 40 feet lower down, as at this point the bodies of the men were lying. From there the car appeared to have rolled sideways and stopped on the wheels, being completely stripped along the ,top and the- engine and body badly broken. The road at this point coulf not be said to be treacherous or unsafe for users driving at a .reasonable speed. William Henry de Malmanehe, the third man in the car, who escaped with slight injuries, said that he was picked up at Levin. McKenzie drove till Wangaehu rivas reached and then Earle took the wheel. Before they started to descend the hill they were travelling fast, perhaps 40 miles an hour, and he did not think that speed was checked. 'When they came to the first bend he did not think Earle was expecting it. He felt the car skid and knew Earle was in difficulties. He thought the car was going to capsize. Earle partly' righted the ear and it crossed the road again, and, then seemed to leap off the road aeross the fence. >

Witness could not say what happened. then, and did not know what occurred to him or how he escaped. Prior to the accident he was sitting in the centre of the car. It was possible Earle put his foot on the accelerator instead of 'the brake. Such a mistake would account for the car appearing to jump as it left the road. They had stopped at Foxton, Bulls, and Turakina and had light drinks.