CYCLIST'S DEATH

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 49, Issue 66, 28 December 1928, Page 2

CYCLIST'S DEATH

COLLISION WITH MOTOR-CAR.

AN ACCIDENTAL OCCURRENCE.. (Special to the "Guardian.") CmUSTCHURCH, Dec. 27. A verdict of accidental death was returned by the Coroner, Mr H. A. Young, who inquired this morning into the death of Charles Braddock, who was killed when his motor-cycle ran into a car at Chaney's yesterday mornin°". In returning the verdict, Mr Young said' tlis,re was no blame attachable either to Miss Geddis, the driver of the car, or to the driver of the motor lorry ' from behind which Braddock rode just before he hit the car. "The evidence shows clearly," said Mr Young, "that there was no carelessness on the part of either driver. Both were on their right side of the road, and both used all the skill in their power to avoid the accident." George Lambert, of Christchurch, company manager, identified the body as that of Charles Braddock. Witness's firm had had dealings with Braddock for the last twelve months. As far as witness knew, Braddock was a cook employed on the Tripp Brothers' station at Orari Gorge, Geraldine. He would be about thirty-five years of age. Ivy Geddis, of White Street, Rangiora, said that at about 11.30 a.m. she was driving a motor car south along the North Road. When past Chaney's Corner and' on the first bend on the concrete road, a motor vehicle was coming toward her on its right side with a number of people in it. Witness was on her correct side, doing about ten miles an hour. The first witness saw of the motor-cycle was wl)m it shot out from behind the other vehicle and came straight on towards her car. She pulled more to the left and the motor-cycle hit the right side of her car. Witness pulled up at once, and so did the lorry. Braddock was alone on the motor-cycle, Some men who were there sent for the police. The first witness saw of the cycle was whew it shot out from behind the lorry. Witness had a lady passenger with her, sitting in the front seat. Ivy Jacobs, of Palmerston North, said she was sitting in the front seat with Miss Geddis. She corroborated the evidence given by Miss Geddis. Joseph Littier, a motor driver, said he was driving a motor lorry north along the North Road towards Chaney's. He had ten adults and six children on the lorry, going for a picnic. He saw the car driven by Miss Geddis on the correct side of the road, and.going fairly slowly. Witness was going about 16 to 18 miles an hour. When Miss Geddis's car was opposite him, he heard a motor-cy</e, and, glancing to the right, saw a motorcyclist dash into the right side of the car.

The cycle ran along the.side of the car and bounced back toward the lorry. Witness saw Braddoek's head hit the lorry. Witness pulled up and when he went up to Braddock, he was dead.

Charles Walton, of 35, Somerset Street, Spreydon, a passenger on the lorry, corroborated the evidence given by the previous witness. He thought the motor-cycle was going about 35 miles an hour. Miss Geddis did all she could to avoid the accident.

Constable Moore, of Belfast, said he arrived on the scene of the accident at about noon. He saw deceased lying on the side of the road, with a badly fractured skull. He removed the body from the road. There were papers on the body, including a motor license. Witness had been unable so far to trace any relatives, and did not know whether ' deceased was married or single. By marks on the road, both Miss Geddes's car and the motor lorry were on their right sides of the road. The Coroner then returned a verdict that deceased died from injuries accidentally received through a motorcycle driven by him colliding with a motor-car.