MOTOR CYCLE ACCIDENT ON SANDON ROAD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 40016, 29 October 1929, Page 2

MOTOR CYCLE ACCIDENT ON SANDON ROAD.

YOUNG MAN KILLED

CYCLE SKIDDED IN LOOSE METAL.

A young man, Harold Wadsworth, single, aged 21. years, a porter employed by the N.Z. Railway Department and working at Thorndon railway' station, Wellington, , and residing at 19 Glenbertne Terrace, Wellington, was killed on the Foxton-iSandon road at about 11 o'clock yesterday morning as a result of a motor cycle he was riding skidding in some loose metal, throwing both rider and pillion rider iu front of an approaching ear which struck Wladsworlh on the h.ead and killed him immediately. His companion, John ‘Claude Alfred Lawson, was not seriously injured, being thrown clear of the eair, and escaped with cuts and abrasions. Lawson, who is a boiler maker, employed by the N.Z. Railway Department, and who resides at 00 Kent Terrace, Wellington, said he had.known Wadsworth for about two months and had gone up to Wanganui with him on the hack of his motor bike during the week-end. Yesterday morning they left Wanganui for Wellington intending to spend the day en route at the Foxton motor sports. When about 12 miles sou'th of Sandon, Wadswortir* slowed the bike up to (about ten miles an liojir to pass an approaching- .car. He was then on the right side ,of the road and in endeavouring to pass over" to the correct side of the road the hike skidded in the loose metal which, was about six inches deep at the spot and threw Loth rider and pillion rider to the ground. Lawson said he was thrown clear but Wadsworth was thrown into the middle of the road and struck on the head by a car which was approaching from the rear*, unknown to the cyclists. The ear in front pulled up just prior to the accident and the other car was travelling at ia very slow rate when ,!he accident occurred. Lawson said he went to his companion’s assistance and pulled him away from Ihe ear and lifted him to the side of the road but lie gave three gasps and expired. Mr. A. 11. Hobbs, driver of the car which Was approaching the cyclists from the direction of Foxton, said that the bike was approaching him at only about ten miles prir hour and in endeavouring to pass across to the 'correct side of the road the machine skidded in the loose metal and threw the two joung men on to the road. There was a ear close behind them at the time and the cycle overturned right in front of it. The ear pulled -up in less than its own length and in doing so swerved to avoid a collision Imt failed to miss Wadsworth who was st/ruc'k on the head %y the running hoard. When picked up his face was against the rear wheel. The driver of the car which struck deceased, Mr. W. E, Warren, oT” Sanson, said that he was motoring to Foxton at the time of the mishap and a short time prioa- to the accident was passed by the two men on the motor cycle. At the time he saw a ear approaching and the motor cycle after passing him tried to cross over to the correct side of the road to pass the approaching eatt- and in doing so skidded in front of Mr. Warren’s ear and threw the rider ' against the front mudguard. Mr. Warren swerved his car up ia bank on the side of the road hut the running board struck deceased. Mr. Hobbs convoyed deceased’s body to the Foxtoil morgue and the poilice were notified of the accident. •Constables Bell (Foxton) and Biaxland (itongotea) investigated the •accident and ascertained that deceased has no relatives in New Zealand. His parents reside at Cioole, Yorkshire, England.