GIRL'S DEATH

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 328, 15 September 1932, Page 5

GIRL'S DEATH

(Press Assn.-

INQUEST INTO RECENT MOTOR FATALITY AT MATAMATA

-By Telegrs.ph — Copyrlght)

Hamilton, Wednesday. Mr. A. J. Tong, District Coroner, presided at the resumed inquest on Greta Murray Amelia Salmon, of Rotorua, who died as the result of an accident at the Braeside crossing on the night of August 9. Vietor Russell Lloyd, a telegraph linesman, at Rotorua, stated that he was the driver of the truck which overturned, and was one of a party of seven who left Rotorua in the evening to attend a dance at Te Aroha. They reached the Braeside crossing at Matamata at about 9.15 p.m. He did not notice the crossing until he came right on to it. One of the ladies said, "That is ths road," and he did not know the turning was there. I-Ie applied the brakes, but misjudged the angle of the turning, the tfuck left the crown of the road, the front wheel collapsed, and the vehicle overturned. Miss Salmon was sitting "" on the outside of the driver's seat, and there wTas another passenger 'between. He was satisfied that if it had not been for the dip in the road he would have got round quite easily. He helieved the accident was caused by his misjudging the turning and the wheel collap'sing. There was no liquor on the truck that night, to his knowledge. Story of Accident

Dr. J. T. Laurenson gave evidence as to the injuries which caused the deeeased's death. There were no signs of liquor on any of the party. Miss Nora Gallagher, of Rotorua, who was one of the party, said she was sitting in th'e front seat between Lloyd and deceased, and knew the road. She had watched for the crossing, and she notieed the crossing when they reached it. She mentioned it to Lloyd, and he appeared to take the bend. She thought the pace was about 30 miles an hour, and under ordinary circumstances th'ey would have got round all right. She considered the cause of the accident was the misjudging of the turning and the wheel collapsing. Frank Harold Crossland, hairdresser, of Rotorua, who was a passenger in the back of the truck, said he considered the speed was not exeessive, and complaints had heen made by those in the back seats about the slowness of th'e pace* The finding of the coroner was that death was due to misadventure by the upsetting of a. motor truck in which deceased and others were trayelling.