MOTOR FATALITY.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 February 1922, Page 6

MOTOR FATALITY.

ACCIDENT NEAR PIHAMA, EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. I r ; (From Our Opunake Correspondent.) The adjourned inquest concern ino- the death of R. E. Madgwick, who died as the result of a motor-car accident on the Wutino Road. Pihama, on February 6, was held in the Opunake courthouse on Wednesday evening. Mr. G. W. Rogers, J.P., presided, and the jury comprised Messrs. Stewart (foreman), Ross, Cook and Hickey. Mr. L. a. Taylor (Hawera) represented the Standard Insurance Company.

The evidence of W. Lambie, one of the occupants of the car, was to the effect that about midday on the 6th inst. he picked up deceased and G. Newsham at the Oeo Hotel and went to Robert Stevenson’s place to inspect some stock, returning from there about 5 o’clock. Deceased was driving the car (owned by Mr. Lambie). After passing Mr. McHardy’s place on the Watino Road, witness looked at the speedometer and saw that the car was travailing at the rate of 40 miles an hour. He said to witness: “You are going too fast.” Deceased lifted his foot from the accelerator and to witness the car seemed to travel faster. The car swerved to the right and then swerved to the left. Witness noticed the left wheel off the metal. The car again swerved to the right and then witness knew “ho more.”

In cross-examination by Mr. Taylor witness said the party had a few drinks, but they were all perfectly sober. Deceased was a competent driver, and Lambie was of opinion that if deceased had been driving his own car the accident would never nave happened.

G. Newsham (another occupant of the cay)> gave evidence. Dr. T. N. Watt’s evidence was that every attention was given to deceased. Alex Stephenson gave t evidence as to finding the car overturned. Lambie and Newsham were under the car, and deceased was unconscious alongside the car. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased met his death accidentally through the overturning of the motor car driven by deceased. There was no evidence as to negligence on the part of the driver.