DRIVER EXONERATED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 269, 27 August 1930, Page 4

DRIVER EXONERATED.

DEATH OF MR E. T. OLDS. VERuDICT AT THE INQUEST. (Per Press Association.) OAMARU, August 26. An inquest touching the death of Edwin Thomas Olds, aged 28, who was killed in a motor accident, on Cape Wanbrow yesterdav morning, was held by the Coroner (Mr W. H. Frith) this morning. Olds was formerly a resident of Ashburton, where he was born, and he was employed by the Post and Telegraph Department as a postman. He met his death while on his letterdelivery round! Evidence was given at the inquest by the driver of the motor-van (George Treasure) and his son, aged 12 years, that the scene of the accident was a steep hill, with an abrupt bend in the road, which, with a bank prevented anyone seeing traffic coming or going for a distance further than a chain. Olds was riding a bicycle down the hill on the wrong side of the road, and was travelling at a good speed, and the driver of the van was on the correct side of the road, and was not travelling at a high speed. The brakes of the bicycle were in good order, but the driver of the van did not sound his horn. Both rider and driver swerved to avoid collision but the van was too close to the bank to allow the rider to pass. The driver gave it as his opinion that the postal bag carried by Olds caused him to lose his balance, and that the accident was due to the sudden appearance of witness, who had done everything possible to avoid the collision. The road was a one-way traffic road and the van was travelling in the wheel tracks. Olds swerved to the bank and the van to the centre of the road. Olds' body struck the windscreen of the van, and his head the top hinge of the left hand door. Fracture of the skull and laceration of the brain were very evident, and Olds expired almost immediately. The Coroner said that the evidence was very conclusive. It was a very dangerous place, and the driver could not be held to blame for the accident. It was an unfortunate occurrence, and seemed unavoidable. It was purely accidental. Perhaps the man who lost his life might have exercised more care by walking down the hill instead of riding. It was a dangerous hill to ride down. There could be only one verdict: That Olds, while riding a bicycle downhill came in contact witli a motor-van driven by _lVi\ Treasure,and received such injuries as caused his death. It was purely accidental, and no blame could he attached to Mr Treasure as far as he could see. The interment will take place at Ashburton to-morrow.