FATAL SMASH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 161, 10 July 1930, Page 8

FATAL SMASH.

COLLISION NEAR SANDON. DRIVER ADMITS HAVING HAD FIVE DRINKS. POSTAL OFFICER'S DEATH. .(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) PALMERSTON NORTH, this day. The circumstances surrounding the death of Alfred Hickey, a postal officer, 23, were investigated by the coroner to-day. Deceased was riding a motor cycle and was injured in a collision with a motor car near Sandon on April 12 and died on May 19. The doctor who, attended deceased at the hospital stated that the cause of death was surgical shock, supervening 011 the debilitated condition of his general health, following the extremely serious nature of the injuries. It was stated that an operation was necessary to effect a union of the fractured bones' and that death was not really attributable to the direct effect of anaesthesia. John Joseph Evans, driver of the car, said he was travelling at 35 miles an hour, and when approaching the corner near Mount Stewart he tried to slacken speed but the accelerator did not come up. He stooped down to pull it up but knocked the steering wheel, causing the car to wobble. Just as the car reached the corner Hickey came round and the crash occurred. Witness applied his brakes and -the car turned over. Replying to questions, witness said he had five drinks that afternoon, three before and two after a football match. He would not deny that he had more than two after the match. The . coroner said he would make no comment on the evidence in view of the likelihood of subsequent proceedings. A verdict was returned in accordance with the medical evidence.