FATAL ACCIDENT

Mt Benger Mail, 28 September 1938, Page 2

FATAL ACCIDENT

CAR SKIDS AT CROSSING The railway crossing at Craigellachie was the scene of a fatal accident on Saturday afternoon. | Mrs Alice Yates a widow aged 69, j of 132 Helensborough Road Wabari was injured and died within half an hour when-the. car in which she was travelling was capsized. The car was driven by her brother Mr J. C. Nicholls of of Milton, and the party was on its way to Heriot when,the accident occurred, the left-hand wheels going over the edge of the road. Mr Nicholls attempted to pull the car back on to the road, but the loose gravel did not allow of any hold, and the car turned a complete somersault, landing on its wheels down a small bank. Mr Nicholls sustained injuries to his neck, and his daughter Adeline sustained bruises to her left shoulder and leg, and Mr Leslie Nicholls, son of the driver, received slight bruises to the leg. The inquest was opened at Lawrence on Monday before the acting coroner, Mr J. E. Keenan J.P., and a jury of four. Evidence was given by Jesse Charles Nicholls, a labourer who said he left Milton for Heriot about 2 o’clock, his.son and daughter and the deceased being the passengers. The car skidded at the railway crossing at Craigellachie in loose gravel, and he swung itbe vehicle sharply to the right to avoid a telegraph post. The sudden swerve caused the car capsize. The accident occurred near 3 o’clock, said witness, who added that his sister bad been attended by a doctor in Dunedin for acute headaches. The injuries she received were bruises on the head. The inquest was then adjourned until October 3.