MOTOR FATALITY.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 January 1921, Page 4

MOTOR FATALITY.

STRATFORD RESIDENT’S DEATH. SOME FURTHER DETAILS. Further details of the motor fatalit at Auckland, by which a resident o Stratford lost his life, are given in Auckland Herald as follows: A fatal motor-car accident occurred in Beach Road at 10.45 a.m. on Saturday. A visitor from Stratford, Mr. Richard Leach, was knocked down by a taxi and sustained injuries from which he died three hours later. There was heavy traffic in the road at the time, and the taxi, which was driven by Mr. William J. Sparkes, was travelling beside a tramcar bound for the races, when, it is stated, the deceased ran out from the pavement, evidently with the intention of boarding the moving tramcar. He was immediately run over, sustaining severe injuries to his head, and 'being considerably bruised about the body. Mr. Sparkes conveyed him in his car to the Auckland Hospital, but death ensued at 2 p.m. t'he same day. Mr. Leach was 35 years of age, and resided at Stratford, whence he had come to spend a holiday in Auckland. He was employed at Stratford by Messrs. R. Hannah and Co., Ltd., boot and shoe retailers, and was a prominent member of the Stratford Fire Brigade. He was a returned soldier, and had been through the whole of the war unscathed. Relatives of his reside in Auckland.

An inquest was opened by Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., when evidence of identification only was taken. An adjournment was then made until next Monday