LOSS OF MEMORY

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21363, 6 March 1941, Page 9

LOSS OF MEMORY

DRIVER OF CAR YOUNG WOMAN’S DEATH INQUEST AT THAMES (By Telegraph.—Special to rimes) THAMES, Wednesday The adjourned inquest into the death of Miss Patricia Henrietta Ford, of Auckland, aged 24, who died of injuries in the Thames Hospital following an accident in which the motor-car in which she was a passenger collided with a telegraph bole in Pollen Street, Thames, on the morning of January 30, was resumed today before the district coroner, Mr W. Bongard. James Hogan, engineer at the Thames Hospital, said he took the driver, Captain Lake, out of the car in a very dazed condition. He found the deceased doubled up under the dashboard. He smelt no liquor about either person. Constable A. H. Gray said the pieces of glass had been scattered 40ft. away. The pole had been snapped 13ft. above the ground. There was no smell or sign of liquor in or about the car. Leslie William Lake, captain in His Majesty’s Forces, said that he and Miss Ford had come to Thames. Before dinner at an hotel they had one drink each. After dinner they awaited the arrival of other friends from Te Aroha. When this party arrived at 9 p.m. all went to Tapu to visit friends spending a holiday in a caravan. The whole party there had consumed four pint bottles of beer and two quart bottles. Soon after 11 p.m. the parly which had gone from Thames went to an hotel at Tapu. They had been invited there by the licensee. No liquor was partaken of at the hotel. When the Jicensee had not arrived by midnight the party returned to Thames. Witness said he had no recollection of what happened after leaving Thames for Paeroa. He did not remember driving down Pollen Street. He had no recollection of the accident, nor did he remember seeing any white discs at the corner. He was in no degree under the influence of liquor, nor was his judgment impaired. The*hotel licensee had invited him to call, as he wanted training manuals, he being a member of the Independent Mounted Rifles. Witness said he could give no reason for the blackout of his memory. The inquest was adjourned sine die.