MOTOR FATALITY NEAR MAKERUA.

Shannon News, 24 May 1927, Page 3

MOTOR FATALITY NEAR MAKERUA.

CAR GOES OVER BANK. TI-IE DRIVER KILLED. A motor fatality occurred at 10.30 a.m. on Sunday on the road between Makerua and Tokomaru opposite Mr Tom Woods’ farm, when a Vauxhall motor car driven by Ernest Blakelock Thubron, who was accompanied by his wife, went over the bank. Mr Tliubron, who was an engineer, residing at 43 Marine. Parade, Napier, was killed. His wife was slightly injured but is suffering from shock and bruises. The couple were on the way from Otaki to Napier. Deceased was a man of 6o years ot age.

INQUEST AT SHANNON. (Special to Chronicle.) The inquest concerning the accident was held at the Poliee Station,; Shannon, yesterday, before Mr T. Brown (acting coroner), Constable Blaikie representing the police. _ Mabel Violet Thubron, wife of deceased, said she was returning 'to Napier with her husband,, having, stayed at the Railway Hotel, at Otaki, on.Saturdav night. They left on Sunday at 8.3*0 a.m. for Napier. When at the other side of Makerua she heard a noise like an explosion, but could not say what actually happened. The ear then o-ot oiit of control and went oyer the bank on the right hartd side. The car overturned and witness and her husband were thrown out. Her husband exclaimed: “Come to me darling. When she got to him he could not speak. Other people then arrived on the scene. Thomas Arnold Wood, shaiemilker, sfated'that, on Sunday morning at about 10.30 a.m.,'he head'd the car passing his residence, and then a crash. He immediately went out on to the road and could see the car lying on the right hand side of the road, down the bank. On to the. car he found deceased lj* fng with his feet under the mudguard and his head towards the road. His wife was on the ground beside him. Deceased was unconscious and probably liyed for about fifteen minutes. His wife was suffering from pain and shock. The engine of the ear was still running, but was eventually stopped. The body of the car was badly damaged, the hood being torn to pieces. Constable Blaikie, in evidence, said that on Sunday at 11 a.m. he was informed that an accident had deeurred on the road between Makerua and Tokomaru and the driver of a car seriously injured. ) Dr. Bell, of Shannon, was notified. He then proceeded to the scene of the accident, where he found deceased lying dead alongside his car. His wife was also there. She was suffering from shock and slight injuries to the left hand. She was removed to Mr O. Wood’s residence, where she was attended to by Dr. Bell. Witness had deceased removed to the Albion Ilote ■, Shannon, and on examination found that his neck was broken. The car was badly damaged, the, left rear tvie and the right inside front tyre being pnetured. The right-hand inside back tyre and tube were completely off the wheel. He saw marks where the car had-got on some loose metal .on the proper side of the road and from there the left hand side back wheel appeared to have skidded. This continued for about 25 yards to where the ear went over the bank on the right hand side of the road travelling to Palmerston N. The car continued along the edge of the bank parallel with the road for about 26 vards to where it overturned. The bank was about four feet high. The distance the car had travelled made lr s,T' r ;car to him t-hut the deceased hud been speeding. He had previously, at 10.10 a.m., taken the number of the car as it proceeded through Shannon, with the intention of reporting the driver for speeding. ; THE VERDICT.

The verdict was that the deceased was accidentally killed by the accidental turning over of the motor car on the road at Makerua. NO RELATIONS IN DOMINION. NAPIER, This Day. Inquiries in Napier show that neither Mr Thubron or his wife has any relations :n rhe Dominion. Comparatively little is known concerning the deceased except that he was an engineer, and was interested in a patent for removing or keeping air from preserving and milk bottles. It was in connection with this patent that he had travelled to Wellington some days ago, and was on his way home again when the tragedy occurred.