MIDNIGHT MOTOR SMASH.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 37, 13 February 1926, Page 14

MIDNIGHT MOTOR SMASH.

SEQUEL TO ONEHXTNGA FATALITY. " ACCIDENTAL DEATH" SAYS CORONER. The sequel to the midnight motor smash on the Manukau Road last Friday night, in which Leonard Charles Vincent, 20. motor tractor driver, met his death, was heard in the Coroner's Court, before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., yesterdayafternoon. Sergeant Turner represented the police. Mr. McKay appeared for the City Council, Mr. J. X.* Jon son appeared for the relatives of the dead man, and Mr. McLiver appeared for the owner of the car. Could Not Remember. Daniel William Lovelock, a barman, said that he knew deceased by sight only. He had met deceased on Friday, but could not remember whether it was late in the morning or early in the afternoon. They had a few drinks at the Thistle Hotel. They separated some time in the afternoon, but met again at a pie-cart in Victoria Street about" 5.30 in the evening. Witness did not remember very much

of what took place at this time. His mind was a bit of a blank. Deceased suggested a drive in a motor. This was agreed to, and he thought that a drive to Papakura was mentioned by deceased. They left the pie stall, and witness went to Elliott Street, where te found deceased waiting for him in a motor car. They drove from the city through Newmarket and out along the South Road. Witness found two bottles of beer in the car, but he could not say whether he had bought these bottles or whether they were in the car. He drank some whisky which he had with him, and they both drank the beer. He remembered the car stopping just after passing the Mang-ere Bridge, but after that his -'mind was a blank again," and he knew nothing about the accident. The next morning he was fined 10/ for drunkenness at the Onehunga; Police Court. Cross-examined by Mr. Johnson, witness said that he had been a motor accessory salesman at one time for a period of six'weeks. He could not drive a car. He was once a barman at the Papakura Hotel, and had worked there for three years. How the Accident Happened. The next witness told the court just how the accident happened. His name was Francis John McDermott, and he was the motorman on the tram with

which the motor collided. When the tram was approaching the Cunningham's Corner stop, he got a signal from the only passenger on the tram. Just before the stop there is a curve in the road, and he saw a motor approaching, with strong headlights, and travelling at a fast pace. When approaching the tram the motor swerved towards the tram and struck the right hand corner of it. The tram was stationary when the accident happened. ''Had the deceased taken the curve properly there would have been plenty of room for him ■ to pass."' said witness. He found deceased lying unconscious and bleeding very freely from Ahe head. He also saw Lovelock, who stood up. Lovelock was also bleeding from a cut on the face. Witness could not say whether Lovelock was drunk, but he seemed to be dazed. Witness estimated the speed of the motor at about 30 miles per hour. It was he who sent deceased away in a bus to a doctor's. To Mr. McKay: He - had not reached the curve when, the tram was struck. Before reaching the curve'he was travelling at about six miles per hour, and he applied his brakes when he saw the motor coming towards him. To Mr.'Johnson: He could not say whether deceased. tsr Lovelock was' driving the car. Witness asked Lovelock whether he was driving, and Lovelock

said "no." When he saw Lovelock, the latter was lying in the back of the car with his legs stretched over the side. The Verdict. The Coroner said that Leonard Charles Vincent died at Onehunga through injuries received through a motor he was driving accidentally colliding with a tram car on the evening of February 5. "It was curious." Mr. Hunt said, "that a man of Lovelock's age should make a friend of a boy of deceased's age. However that has nothing to do with mc," he concluded.