STREET FATALITY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10608, 5 June 1920, Page 7

STREET FATALITY

M& COMBS' DEATH CORONIAL INQUIRY INTO CIRCUMSTANCES. An inquiry was opened yesterday morning before Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court concerning the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr "Willis Combs, who died from injuries received through being knocked down by a motor lorry on Jervois quay on Monday afternoon last.

Dr K. G. Salmond, house surgeon at tho hospital, said that the deceased was admitted •• to the institution at 5 o'clock on thoi evening of May 31st. He \\as then in a semi-conscious condition and suffering from shock. On examiation it was found that the deceased had abrasions on the left side of the face, nose and lips.s but the skull did not show signs of fracture. The cause of death was shock following on severe injuries to tho head and! back. William Croll, a resident of Porirua, stated that he was in company with the deceased on the? day of the acci. dent. They wero walking along Jervois quay, and. in front of them was a lorry which was standing near "R" shed on the waterfront, while further on there was another lorry. _ Witness observced two cars approaching, and touching Combs he said, "Wait a minute." The cars passed and immediately afterwards a lorry came towards then). It was then about two lengths away, and appeared to have come from behind the vehicle that was standing in front of the >hed. There was a considerable amount oil traffic ou the road at the time and the lorry, in his opinion, appeared to be going fast in the circumstances. The deceased was behind witness. The lorry swerved and witness .lumped towards the centre of tho Toad, the vehicle missing him by six or eight inches. On looking round ho saw the lorry still swerving to'the right, and Combs fall under it, while another man was struck and knocked down. After striking Combs the lorry was shopped* apparently in its own length and the left-hand back wheel was then on the* body of Combs. Frederick W. McCourtier, motor inspector in tho employ of the City Corporation', said ho arrived at the scene of the accident at 4.<'9 o'clock. He examined tho brakes of the motor lorry and foy.nd. them to b e in perfect order. By tho applied'-i-vt of the handbrake the lorry could be pulled up in its own length and, when both brakes were applied, in half its own length, while going at a speed of 15 miles an hour. Tho person who was in charge of the lorry was a competent driver, but the man who was driving it at tho time of the accident was not in possession of a. competency certificate. At this stage the inquiry was adjourned till 10 o'clock this morning. Senior-Sergeant Kelly conducted tho inquiry on behalf of. the police, Mr H. E. Evans appeared for Messrs Inglis Brothers, the owners of the lorry, and Mr O. A. L. Treadwell for tho widow of thoi deceased.