A FATAL COLLISION.

Shannon News, 27 June 1922, Page 3

A FATAL COLLISION.

CORONER’S INQUIRY.

An inquest was held at Palmerston yesterday into the death of William Davidson, who died at the Palmerston North Hospital as a result of injuries received in a collision on June 10 between a motor-car controlled by Hugh Wilson Mclntosh, and a trap driven by John J. Wood.

Dr. Putnam said deceased did not regain consciousness after his admission to the hosptial, and the cause of death .was gross injuries to the brain. Hugh Wilson Mclntosh, lorrydriver, of Makerua, said that he was the driver of the car on the night of the accident. He left Shannon about 6 p.m. for his home .accompanied by his brother, and the deceased. They had travelled about five or six chains when they collided with a horse and gig He saw nothing of the gig until he struck it, as there was a bend in the road at the spot, and the car lights were shining across the road. the ! car was travelling at about ten miles per hour, and was proceeding along the centre of the road. He had had three drinks before leaving Shannon, and he was perfectly sober. Witness said he had good lights, but it was quite possible that he had his eyes off the road momentarily. Replying to the 'Coroner, witness said that it was not possible that the three drinks he had would interfere with his driving.

Continuing, he Said he could not in any way account for the accident, and he took every care. Witness was positive that there were no lights on the trap, and had there been he would have observed them, and avoided the accident.

John A. Mclntosh, a brother of the previous witness, who was an occupant of the, car, gave corroborative evidence ,and also declared that the cart did not have lights. In reply to a question by the Coroner, witness said that neither he nor his brother were muddled. Continuing, the only reason he could give for the occupants of the car not observing the trap was because a bend in the road obstructed their view.

John James Wood, sharemilker, of Makerua, stated that when the accident occurred he was proceeding in his trap from Makerua to Shannon. He was accompanied by a man named Stuart, whom he had picked up, and was giving a ride. After crossing the bridge in the vicinity of the scene of the accident, he noticed a car approaching in the centre of the road. When near the creamery road the approaching vehicle appeared to go from, the middle to the right of the road. Witness pulled off to the left as far as was possible', but he could not .avoid the accident. Prior to the accident the car-driver seemed to make an attempt to get back dn to his correct side. The car did not appear to be travelling very fast. Witness had one light burning when he left Makerua, but could not say whether it was still alight when the accident occurred. A small bank prevented him getting any further off the road. The car was no t t moved from the time of the accident until the police arrived. The shaft of the driving side of the cart went through the windscreen. Witness could think of no reason yhy he was not seen by the occupants of the car, even if his lights had gone out. Edward Lyall Stuart, of Miranui, who was riding with the last witness, corroborated his evidence, and stated that when he got into the gig Wood said that the lights had gone out, but they continued on without them.

John A. Grumwald, -bee farmer, residing at Shannon, stated that lue was cycling on the main road prior to the accident, he noticed that the trap had no ■ lights, and the motor-car’s were dull. The car was travelling at aboUjt *2O miles an’ hour. The natural light was good, and he could not understand why tihe driver of the car did not discern the approaching gig. The driver of the gig, in witness’s opinion, did everything possible to avoid a collision by keeping well over to his left side.

Constable T. McGregor said he found that, the»candle in Wood’s right lamp had burnt, out. The road was 27 feet wide at the place where the accident occurred.

The Coroner stated that, (he would give his verdict after he had considered the evidence.