PICNIC TRAGEDY

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 232, 20 December 1927, Page 16

PICNIC TRAGEDY

FLAW IN LORRY’S STEERING GEAR EVIDENCE AT INQUEST (From Our Own Correspondent I TE KUITI, Today. Au inquest concerning the death of Max Bredenbeck, the victim of the lorry smash near Awakino on Sunday was held by Mr. R. M. Somerville! coroner, yesterday. The driver of the lorry, F. Breienbeck, deposed that on the morning of the day of the accident he was taking a picnic party of parents and children to the Mokau Bridge. When approaching the scene of the accident a nut from the steering gear came off and he lost control. Witness was travelling at about eight miles an hour at the time of the mishap. In reply to a question by the coroner, witness stated that his lorry was not licensed to carry passengers He was carrying a picnic partv on this occasion and no charge had been made Witness stated that the particular part of the mechanism which became detached was a weakness in the steering apparatus of motor-lorries. The steering arm should be put in the stub axle more securely. As it was at present, it was fixed with only a nut and a split pin. There had been several accidents to the knowledge of witness in the district recently from the same cause. The coroner returned a verdict of death from shock, following injuries received as the result of a motor accident. The complete list of injured is as follows: — Gordon Weir, son of Mr. G. H. Webpost master. of Arapae, fractured ribs and shock. Now in hospital. Rita Weir, aged 12. broken collarbone. Mrs. F. Bredenbeck, shock and ininry to an arm. Levinia Bredenbeck. aged 7, injuries to the ankle, and shock. Mrs. B. Condon, wife of Mr. B. Condon, Awakino Road, injuries to the lee] and shock. Marion Condon, aged. 13, cuts about the head and thigh." Kathleen Condon, aged 3, bruises and minor injuries. Jack Condon, aged 6, bruises about the body. Thomas Cox, son of Mr. T. Cox, Arapae, farmer, slight injury to ribs. Jack Fitzgibbons. labourer, of Te Kulti, injuries to the arm. Minor injuries were also sustained by other members of the party.