TOLL OF THE ROAD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 183, 4 August 1932, Page 9

TOLL OF THE ROAD.

AUCKLAND INQUEST VERDICTS. An inquest was held yesterday afternoon into the circumstances attending the death of Gerald Rowc Clapham, aged 45, an insurance agent, of 1132, Great North Road, Point Chevalier, who died as the result of injuries received when his bicycle collided with a motor lorry at Arch Hill on July 11. The evidence showed that deceased was riding on Great North Road behind a bread delivery van, which stopped at the corner of Grosvenor Street. He pushed himself off the van with one hand, and came in front of a lorry, owned by the Auckland Mental Hospital, and driven by Lincoln Harold Gandy. The bicvele skidded, and Clapham fell, the front wheel of the lorry passing over him. Ah eye-witness of the accident said the lorry driver had no opportunity of pulling up. The coroner, Mr. W. R. Mckean, S.M., returned a verdict that Clapham died as the result of injuries accidentally caused. He said he was satisfied that the lorry was being carefully driven.

A verdict of accidental death was also returned in .the case of Ivor Courtenay Hobday, aged 20, of 21, Victoria Avenue. Remuera, who was killed when his motor cycle crashed into a telegraph pole alongside Remuera Road, near Market Road, on July 5. The evidence showed that the motor cycle struck a glancing blow on the side of a tramcar which was travelling in the same direction, and then ran directly on to the post. The coroner said the injuries were caused by an accidental fall.