INJURIES PROVE FATAL

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 74, 24 August 1938, Page 3

INJURIES PROVE FATAL

INQUEST ON PEDESTRIAN

ACCIDENTAL ‘ DEATH

DELAY IN S FIGURING DOCTOR

CU.M M ENTS BY CORONER

As the result of receiving severe bead injuries, when struck by a motor car m St. John Street at about (3.J0 o'clock on Sunday night, Mr Bernard White died without regaining consciousness at fi.GC' p.ui. on Monday.

An inquest was hold yesterday morning before the district coroner, Al!r F. J. Short. Sergeant J. Isbister conducted proccdings on bebali of the police, and Mr Hoi watched proceedings (jii bebali cl the deceased's uiotli-

Dr Tl. J. Alail gave medical evidence concerning the severe bead injuries received by the deceased and said lie was called to the injured man at about 12.J0 a.m. on Monday morning. His condition was bad and be looked as il be would die at any time. Mo was examined on. two more occasions during the day. Ihe wounds were consistent with the deceased being struck by a car.

Henry lVawini, the driver of the car described his movements during the day and said lie drove L. Agassiz’s car from Dan ltewiri’s home at about 6.G0 p.ui. He drove at about 1- to lo miles an hour and when near Mr 11. Burnett’s bouse he saw the deceased run in front ol tlie ear. He had no chance to avoid him and alter deceased was struck bo pulled up and found him lying just behind the car. He took deceased to his home. It was about midnight when they got a doctor. Witness said be bad viewed the body in the presence ol the coroner.

Cross-examined by Air Mei witness denied that be made a practice ot having weekly drinking bouts or bad a Leg cl beer at the party at Dan .Ltewiri’s place. When asked bow the accident, could have happened ii be was only travelling at J2 to Id miles an hour, witness said they bad arranged to pick deceased up on the road, lie was looking out for deceased as be drove along and the deceased' was only about seven feet away when be saw him first. He got right in front of the two lights and bad stepped out from tilt' grass. The coroner said it appeared certain, that the side curtain bad blocked the view to the side.

D. Agassiz, owner ol the car said that Beawini bad driven Irom Dan Uewiri’s place to town. Ihe car collided with an object when near Air Burnett's place. That was the first he knew of anyone being on the road. The doctor was not ordered until about midnight, and then the police were notified. There was no. celluloid on the side curtain oil the left .side. He bad fixed the curtain up himself after lie bad secured bis certificate of fitness.

To Mr Hoi, witness said he told Hemic White's mother that liernie was unconscious and also gave her some money he had taken from Hemic’s pocket when they were changing bis clothes. On tlu*' previous Sunday the party had gone to Ohiwa to git. pipis. They got a manure hag lull. There were four in the party including Hemic. They did 1 not take a keg of beer to Oliiwa and that was not the principal object lor going there. I he\ also dill not take a keg ol beer to llewiri’s. At this stage Sergeant Isbistcr stated that he had evidence to show that all the mom hers of the> ear party were perfectly sober.

Mrs Kewiri gave evidence of feeling a, hump when the car got near the Drill Hall. She got out and saw> the deceased on the road and got a I right and went hack to the car. I onto Pea win i had been driving on the lei t side of the road.

Airs Peawini in evidence siiid she was in the rear ol the ear and heard u crash and the car pulled up quickly. Deceased was lying on the left side ol the road near the grass. She ordered I)r Mail at about' midnight.

H. Burnett said that at about 0.30 o’clock' on Sunday night he heard u oar stoj) outside his house and. thought someone had cometto go to- his house. He went to the front door and saw the ear on the road. Another car came along and ho then saw by this cur s light an object on the road. He then noticed it was a man. Ho went out anil saw he was badly injured and assisted to carry the man to the ear.

’l'he car had stopped about two yards past where the injured man was lying.

Constable W. Katliio said that at ahout I a.m. on Monday he was called to the scene of the accident. There were no tyre, marks visible hut there was a small pool of blood: on the bitumen. 'l'he street was dry and visibility was good. Lights were on both sides of the spot. 'l’he coroner said there was no evidence ol ; drinking by any member ol the party, hut there were two or three features he would like to comment on. First of all it was a remarkably lung time before medical assistance had been called. In the present ease hie could not have been saved hut this was no excuse. When the accident happened they should have immediately reported to the police. It was well over five hours before this was done. In connection with the practice of issuing certificates of. fitness, there should he a law in regard to side curtains which could not he seen through. That point should he altered.

' The coroner jn giving his verdict of the--cause ol death said this was due to deceased being knocked down |>y a ear driven by Peawini, and the cause of death was purely accidental.