DOUBLE ACCIDENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1075, 12 September 1930, Page 16

DOUBLE ACCIDENT

STRUCK BY MOTOR-CYCLE FELL OVER RAILING MARRIED MAN’S DEATH After being knocked down by a { motor-cycle in Karangahape Road on I August 19, Mr. Arthur John McGuin- j ness, aged 38, fell over the stairway J railing in his home later in the even- i ing and crashed to the floor below. | The inquest concerning his death was ; concluded yesterday afternoon before \ Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., coroner. Harry Rupert Halls said that at j about 6.15 p.m. on August 19 he was I riding his motor-cycle along Karanga- i hape Road at about 20 miles an hour, j When opposite Howe Street he | noticed a man crossing the road about 4ft or sft away. In passing the man I witness struck him with his right j shoulder, but turned back as soon as j he realised that he had struck the ; man. Donald Holmes, a taxi-driver, said I he was driving in the same direction i as the motor-cyclist, who was travelling at about .25 miles an hour. In | liis opinion, the cyclist should have ! seen the pedestrian. " MODERATE PACE ’’ Rose McAneauy said she considered ! that the motor-cyclist was travelling at a moderate pace and the driver was ' not responsible for the accident. j Mrs. Jessie McGuinness, widow ot j the dead man said she saw her bus- j band in a shop in Karangahape Road shortly alter the accident and he was later able to walk home with assistance. The injured man was placed on a bed fully dressed as she could not get his clothes off. Later, she found him lying unconscious at the foot of the stairs. In her opinion, he had tripped and fallen over the banister railing. The cause o£ death was hemorrhage, with fractures ot the pelvis and spine, following on congestion ot the brain and fracture ot the skull, said Dr. D. N. W. Murray. The fatal injuries were received by falling over the banisters. He had a good chance of recovery from the injuries received I when lie was knocked down by the j motor-cyclist. The coroner said he was satisfied ! that the cause of death was as stated by Dr. Murray. The evidence did i not satisfy him that the motor-cyclist j had been negligent.