THE MOTOR FATALITY.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1922, Page 5

THE MOTOR FATALITY.

ACCIDENTAL DEATH VERDICT. EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. An inquest into the circumstances concerning the death of John Clarke, who died as the result of injuries received in a motor-car collision in Devon Street Central, New Plymouth, early on Monday evening, was held at the New Plymouth Courthouse before the Coroner, Mr. A. M. Mowlem, S.M., last evening. Mr. A. A. Bennett watched proceedings on behalf of E. Hine, the driver of the car. Sen.-Sergeant McCrorie conducted the inquiry for the police. Dr. E. F. Fookes deposed to attending deceased at ft p.m. on the night of the accident. Jfe was then a dying man. He had severe injuries to his skull by a fracture extending across the base and into the side of the vault. He had also a fractured right wrist and right leg below the knee, besides other smaller abrasions. His death was due to the shock sustained by these severe injuries. He was unconscious when witness attended him and died about halfpast six. Cecil John Clarke, laborer, Clemow Road, Fitzroy, said he was a son of the deceased and had identified the body as that of his father, who was aged flft and was a laborer at the time of his death. He was a married man living at Fitzroy. He was in good health and his hearing was perfectly sound. Edgar Hine, a retired farmer, living in Powderham Street, said he was. coming down Devon Street towards the Post Office in a motor car on the left-hand side of the road just after 5 p.m. on Monday. He blew the car horn at Currie Street, where a tram-car, proceeding to Fitzroy, was met. The road was l quite clear between the tram and the footpath and between the motor and the tram. Immediately on passing the tram there was a loud yell and at the same time witness saw a man about a yard in front towards the left of the car. Witness applied both brakes, the man fell on to the mudguard, and, turning over, disappeared from view. The car was then stationary.

To Sen.-Sergeant McCrorie: He was nine or ten feet from the footpath when witness first noticed him; the deceased’s face was turned away from the car. Dr. Milroy was communicated with and the man was taken away in the ambulance. Witness was not travelling at a greater speed than six miles per hour. His brakes were in good order and there were no means Whereby he could have prevented the accident. In the car with him were Messrs W. H. Moyes, Andrew Smith and A. Papps. To Mr. Bennett: Deceased did not appear to look round in the direction of the car before the accident occurred. He estimated the car travelled its own length after the impact. Win. Henry Moyes, headmaster of the Boys’ High School, a. passenger in the car, gave corroborative evidence. He thought two people called out to deceased, but he ■ appeared to take no notice. It was probably the bottom of the radiator that struck deceased after he fell on the mudguard and toppled over.

Gilbert Hall, who was in Devon Street at the time of the accident, said he saw the deceased step off the foqtpath, his face being turned towards the Post Office, the car being about three feet away at the time. He did not think any blame was attachable to the driver. There was a stationary tram ear at the car stop at the time, almost opposite the scene of the accident. He thought the deceased intended to board the car going to Fitzroy. A verdict of accidental death was returned. There did not appear to be any blame attachable to the driver, who appeared to be observing the ordinary rules of the road.