LYING CLOSE TO ROAD.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 270, 14 November 1928, Page 5

LYING CLOSE TO ROAD.

NAVAL STOKER KILLED. ACCIDENTAL DEATH. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent . WELLINGTON, this day. On October 30 Cyril William Nesbit. aged 22, a stoker on H.M.s. Dunedin, was killed by a motor truck bet.wevii Upper Hutt and Trentham. The truck was driven by Joseph Francis Billington. At the inquest yesterday it was stated by Leading Stoker James Ernest Toy that lie and Nesbit went from Trentham camp to Upper Hutt, where they had some drinks. At 11.30 p.m. they decided to walk back to Trentham. They were sober when they left the hotel, but Nesbit appeared to become drowsy, and after passing Quinn's Post he sat down on the right-hand side of the road, and later lay with his head a few feet from the edge of the bitumen.

Tlie coroner, Mr. E. Page, S.M., found that Nesbit was accidentally killed. The vehicle, he said, was poorly lighted, and did not comply with the regulations. He was satisfied, however, that even with good headlights the accident could hardly have been avoided, for two men in dark blue naval uniform who were not moving would not be easy to pick up.