OKOROIRE FATALITY.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 224, 16 February 1928, Page 8

OKOROIRE FATALITY.

INQUEST AGAIN ADJOURNED The inquest touching the deaths of Norman Edwin Castleton and John Henry Thomas Howie Woodburn Young, caused through a motorcycle collision near Okoroire on the 28th of January, was held in the County Council office, Tirau, on Tuesday, before Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., as coroner. Robert William Fisk, farm labourer, stated he knew Castleton, one of the youth’s killed, personally, but not Young. On the night of the accident he was returning from Mr. Cook’s place about ten past nine when he saw a motor-cycle in the centre of the road. Stopping his car he found Young lying injured, and in great pain, by the road-side. He then found Castleton some ten or fifteen yards away. The latter’s cycle was some distance away on the right side of the road. Castleton was unconscious. A motor-lorry then appeared on the scene, and a man named Buchanan went and rang the police. When Buchanan returned witness took his wife and child home and returned to the scene of the accident within ten minutes. The police and doctor came about an hour and a-half later. Witness stayed until the ambulance took both men away about 3 a.m.

Dr. Haslett, of Putaruru, stated he was called to the scene of the accident about' 9.30 p.m., and arrived about half-an-hour later. The accident occurred about a mile past the Okoroire hotel on the Te Poi-Okoroire road. After glancing at both he examined Young first as he was conscious. Young was in acute agony and made no remarks of import. His right leg was severely lacerated at the knee joint, the lef being almost completely torn away from the thigh. There was a severe cut across the foot exposing the larger blood vessels. The right hand was very badly mangled, the bones being exposed. He wfes suffering severely from shock and loss of blood. Witness had to give chloroform at the side of the road before he could do anything, as the leg was so badly twisted. He then dressed his wounds and gave anti-shock injections. He also dressed the hand and foot of Castleton and gave a similar injection. The latter was completely unconscious. Having done everything possible witness then left. Herbert Percy Buchanan, millhand, of Okoroire, stated that he passed in a lorry on the night in question, and saw the two men lying on the roadside. One was unconscious and the other in great agony. Witness went to the nearest farm and rang the police. He remained on the scene till the police came.

John Clemos stated he worked with Young at the Te Poi cheese factory and was in his company that evening, having come to Tirau with him on the back of his cycle. They came to purchase some decorations for a dance at Te Poi. They left Tirau about 8 p.m. After leaving Tirau they called at Okoroire and went to the back of the hotel to a friend’s “ crib.” They had nothing to drink. It would be about dark when Young for Te Poi as witness saw him by his light. ’Witness returned later in Mr. Wall’s car. He did not see Young again until he was lying on the road injured. To the Police : Young had a real good light on his cycle and it was alight when he left witness. Young was accustomed to travelling at a fair speed depending on the state of the road.

Constable Murphy, of Putaruru, said the accident was reported to him shortly after 9 p.m., and he accompanied the doctor to the scene. The distance between the two bicycles was 68 feet. Young’s cycle was on the left-hand side of the road going from Okoroire to Te Poi and Young was on the grass. The cycle did not seem to be damaged much. Castleton’s cycle was lying on the clay on the right-hand side going from Okoroire to Te Poi and Castleton was lying just in front. The tank of the cycle was burst open and part of Young’s kneecap was hanging to it. There was such a crowd there that all marks were obliterated on the road. Constable Cotter waited with the injured men till the ambulance came.

No further evidence was taken, and the inquest, which had been previously opened at Hamilton to secure evidence of identification, was again adjourned to Hamilton, where the evidence of medical officers present when the death of Castelton occurred will be taken.