PUKE BRIDGE FATALITY.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 76, 29 March 1920, Page 4

PUKE BRIDGE FATALITY.

CORONER'S INQUEST. (By Telegrapjl.—Own Correspondent.) PAEROA, Saturday. An inquiry was opened to-day before Mr. W. M. Wallnutt, district coroner, into the cause of the motorcar accident at the Puke Bridge on March 5, which resulted in the death by drowning of Messrs. W. C. Walker and Harry Stockley. The owner of the car, Mr. H. W, Cogjui, stated in evidence that he left his car in Te Aroha and went to Auckland to get a supply of benzine. While in Auckland he aranged with Walker, a taxi driver, to drive the car to Thames. The two men. accompanied by Stockley, arrived in Te Aroha by the' afternoon train on March a. All three left Te Aroha for Thames in the car at five o'clock. Walker driving. The three men sat in the The of the car was packed with luggage. Coming through the town of Paeroa the car was travelling at 2o to - :iO miles an hour, as nearly- as*witncss could'judge. The road rises at the approach to the Puke Bridge, and the car "was going at not more than 15 miles an hour up this rise. None of the party knew that the bridge had a swinging span. Witness did not see any frates guarding the gap in the bridge, nor did ho see anyone on the bridge. He heard no warning cries. Just before they came to the gap he saw the danger, and called out to Walker, who had already applied the brakes of the car. The car almost stopped, and just fell over the edge. AnothPr six inches nf bridge ahead of the car would probably have saved them. Tho next he knew was that he was in the water. He managed to get to the centre portion of the bridge and scrambled up one of thfc piles. They had one drink only before leaving Te Aroha. which was thp only liquor they had that day. The brakes were working very well. D. McKechnie. manaeer of the garasre in Te Aroha where the car was left, stated that when the three men left the garasre en route for Taeroa they were perfectly sober. The court adjourned to visit the scene of the accident, and resumed this morn- | ing. The inquest is likely to occupy some considerable tune.