DID DRIVER FAIL?

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 207, 21 November 1927, Page 13

DID DRIVER FAIL?

BUS HITS TELEGRAPH POLE NEW LIGHT AT INQUEST Press Association. WELLINGTON. To-day. The death in hospital of Mrs. Watson on October 17, as a result of injuries received in a bus accident on the Hutt Road, was the subject of an inquest held to-day by Mr. W. G. Kid*ll. S.M. x - Mr. McCourtrie, assistant-chief traffic inspector, said ho examined the hus shortly after the accident and took measurements showing the course or the bus after it left the road. It would take three half seconds at 20 miles an hour for the bus to strike the post tter leaving the track if the driver "ere in full possession of his faculties, would be absolutely no reason "hy he should not bring it back to its course as soon as it left the road. The Coroner: Then the accident was due either to the act of a madman or 10 loss faculties ? witness answered “yes/* One passenger (they were all "omen) said that just before the acci- $ e nt a packet of tickets fell down from Jfside the driver. He stooped and Picked it up with his right hand. He ;<j not reached the tickets at the time the smash. Pressed under crosslamination why she had not made this ;,atement in her original statement to me poii ce on the day of the accident, ■utness said that she considered the cident so important that she thought •• should not be spoken of till there '? 8 a properly-conducted inquiry, nere she would be on oath. She had 1 even told her husband, s * v coroner protected witness, saying “ had given a satisfactory reason.