KILLED BY A LORRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 November 1915, Page 3

KILLED BY A LORRY.

A LAD'S FATAL INJURIES. EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. An inquest concerning the death of Cyril Albert Mullon, seven years old, of Opunake, who died in the New Plymouth Hospital on Sunday, was held yesterday before the Coroner (Mr. A. Crooke). Oscar Albert Mullon, the father of the deceased, deposed that on Saturday he was driving a motor lorry from New Plymouth to Opunake, and he was accompanied by the deceased. On reaching the Omata Hill the engine stopped after the vehicle had gone up the hill a short way. Witness put on the emergency brake, and alighting from the lorry he examined the engine, which ho found wanted water. Witness told the deceased to get off and to keep clear. Later witness prepared to start the ear to run it back to the foot of the hill, when suddenly the car ran back a few feet. Witness believed a high wind which was Wowing was the cause of the car running back. At that time witness did not see the deceased, but presently he heard the boy call out, "Dad, I'm hurt!" Witness found the deceased lying about six feet from the ear to the side, and the boy said he thought his leg was broken. Witness had not told the deceased to do anything but to keep clear of the lorry. Witness did not tell the hoy to block the back wheels with stones; witness had already done that. Witness placed the deceased in the lorry and brought him to the New Plymouth Hospital. Dr. E. A. Walker, medical superintendent at the New Plymouth Hospital, said the deceased was brought to the iiospital shortly before three o'clock on Saturday afternoon, and on attending him witness found he was suffering from shock. The right humerus was fractured and there' was a large wound extending from the elbow to the wrist. The right thigh was also fractured and there was a deep wound on the leg. An anaesthetic was administered and appropriate treatment carried out. The patient, however, continued to show the symptoms of collapse anu died suddenly at eleven o'clock on Sunday morning. The cause of death was shock following upon injuries of great severity. To Senior-Sergeant Bowden: The deceased told witness he was about to put a stone under the hack wheel of the lorry, when the vehicle came back upon him, causing the injuries described. The deceased said that his father told him to put the stone under the wheel.

The Coroner, in returning a verdict of accidental death, said it was a great pity the father had told Ms son to put a stone under the wheel, though no doubt the father thought the lorry would bold. It was a pity the boy had been allowed to go behind'the lorry. The father: I told the boy to 'stand clear.