CYCLIST’S DEATH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 July 1938, Page 6

CYCLIST’S DEATH

THE RECENT GREYTOWN FATALITY VERDICT AT THE INQUEST, COLLISION WITH MOTOR-CAR. An inquest Was opened at Greytown this morning before Mr T. E. Lang, Coroner, concerning the death of Charles Higgison, a labourer, of Greytown, who vzas knocked down on July 10 by a Car driven by Mr lan Macßae, Tyneside, and died subsequently in the Greytown Hospital. The accident occurred at about 5.30 p.m. just south of the bowser station at the oouth end of Greytown. Senior-Sergeant Doggett appeared for the police, Mr C. C. Marsack for Macßae and Mr H. Lawson for the relatives of Higgison. Constable A. Gregor, of Greytown, gave evidence of having been called to the scene of the accident. The highway in the locality was perfectly straight. It was raining and dark, and the bitumen, which was of a black finish, was very wet. It was impossible to pick up any marks on the road indicating the course taken by the car concerned in the accident. The back portion of the rear mudguard of the bicycle was painted white and there was a small red disc attached to the back of the mudguard. The back wheel of, the bicycle was badly buckled. The place of the accident was outside the borough speed limitation area.

Mr Macßae, witness continued, was at the' scene of the accident when witness arrived, and said he was the driver of the car concerned. The light on the bicycle was not then workable. It was of a cheap make and might easily have been put out of action. Mr MacRae explained that he was driving north, at .approximately forty miles an hour, and did not see the cyclist until he was nearly up to him. He was driving well over on his correct side, and, owing to the amount of motor traffic he had been meeting on the road, he had the headlights of his car dipped. As soon as he saw a man on a bicycle, he swerved sharply to. his right. As he did so, the bicycle also swerved to the right, towards the centre of the road, and the left-hand front side of the car struck the bicycle. He then pulled up and went back to give what assistance he could. He could not be sure of his speed, as he did not have his dash light on, but he was certain he was not doing over forty miles an hour. Constable Gregor stated that there was. not the least sign of liquor whatever about Mr Macßae, who was perfectly frank in every way and was anxious to give every assistance. He was the sole occupant of the car. Dr. A. C. W. Oakey gave evidence as to the injuries suffered by Mr Higgison

Traffic Inspector C. S. Nicholsoh, who arrived at the scene of the accident shortly after it had occurred, said the drivei’ of the car, Mr lan Macßae, was- perfectly sober and gave every possible assistance after the accident. The rain made it impossible to find any particular motor tracks on the bitumen. Visibility was poor, though with dipped lights a driver should be able to see fifty yards ahead. As there: was only one windscreen wiper on Mr MacRae’s car, he would not see so well on the left hand side. In reply to Mr Marsack, witness said if there was oncoming traffic it would be very difficult for Mr Macßae to see the cyclist. Andrew Jackson, of Ahikouka, who was driving north on the night of the accident, said Mr Macßae’s car passed him just south of where the accident occurred. He estimated that Mr MacRae was travelling not more than 35 miles per hour when he passed him. As Mr Macßae swung on to his correct side of the road after passing him, witness saw the red reflector of a bicycle some distance ahead, shown up by Mr Macßae’s car. He saw Mr Macßae's car suddenly swerve to the right and stop. There was. a considerable amount of traffic aßout at the time of the accident. He considered that'Mr Macßae was driving at a very steady and safe speed. In reply to Mr Lawson, witness said the cyclist would be about 150 yards .away when he saw the reflector and the cyclist would then be about 100 yards from Mr Macßae’s car, which was travelling close in to the left of the bitumen.

Nancy Rose Cowper, of Pirinoa, Who was travelling north, said Mr Macßae passed her near the Cemetery gates. She should say Mr Macßae was travelling at not more than 35 miles per hour when he passed her. She had remarked when he passed on how slowly the car was travelling for such a powerful one. Visibility was very bad. After stopping at the scene of the accident she hurried away to call a doctor.

lan Macßae, driver of the car, said he was driving at about 40 miles per hour along the long straight stretch from Tauherenikau northwards, but when he came to a bump near the Cemetery gates, he reduced his speed and crossed it at an angle. After that witness said he did not increase his speed. He had followed a car for a considerable distance and passed this car, Mr Jackson’s, near the cemetery. Witness said his lights were then full on, but when he saw a car approaching he would dip lhem. After passing Mr Jackson, there were some glaring lights showing in the distance which were not dipped. His reason for dipping his lights was to try to pursuade the other man to dip his. A car with dazzling headlights dashed passed him at about fifty' miles per hour when he was getting out of his car just after the accident. He did not see. the cyclist until the latter was about threequarters of a chain to a chain ahead. There was no light visible on the bicycle. Witness could only see the man on the bicycle. When he first caught a glimpse of the cyclist he could see he was wobbling on the road and he pulled off to the right. When he was well over to the wrong side of the road his

that the cyclist was, carrying flew up and hit the windscreen on the extreme left. He was almost sure the car did not run over Mr Higgison, who was thrown to the left and he thougnt, clear. “I consider my lights did not affect his vision,”- said witness. “It was the lights of the oncoming car that dazzled him. lam sure ihat if he had kept a direct course on the road the accident would never have happened.” Witness said he estimated his speed at the actual time of impact at under 30 miles per hour. His car was equipped with four-wheel hydraulic brakes, which were in perfect order. He started to brake as soon as he saw the cyclist. Senior-Sergeant Doggett: “At any time did you see a reflector on the bicycle.” Witness: “None whatever.” “At what position oh the road was the cyclist when the accident happened?” asked the Senior-Sergeant. Witness: “He was about the centre of the road, but had only just got there. I consider he was dazzled by the oncoming lights.” In reply to further questions, witness said he had kept a careful lookout for cyclists and had pulled up after the impact in about thirty .feet. Mr Lawson: “Had it not been for the dazzling headlights you would have been able to pick up the cyclist much sooner?” Witness: “Yes, definitely.” Mr Marsack said he wished to draw attention to some wicked and injurious rumours which had been circulated about Mr Macßae. As the evidence showed, there was no suggestion whatever that Mr Macßae did not stop after the accident and render every possible assistance and there was no suggestion whatever that he had had any liquor. In fairness to Mr Macßae -he thought those facts should be made clear. The Coroner returned a verdict of death in accordance with the medical evidence, due to a fracture of the skull following injuries received as the result of a collision with a car driven by Mr Macßae.