TRUCK CAPSIZED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 32, 8 February 1939, Page 6

TRUCK CAPSIZED.

DEATH OF DRIVER. VERDICT OF CORONER. (From Our Correspondent.) OPOTIKI, Tuesday. An irtquest was held before Mr. F. J. Short, district, coroner. Into the death of Charles Stanley Smith, in the Opotiki Hospital. Deceased suffered severe ili' ternal injuries when his truck capsized last Tuesday. Constable Rathie conducted proceedings for the police. T id Morrison, farmer, of Tirohanga, said that deceased arrived at his farm with a load of shingle. Witness thought the track deceased intended to take down the hill was dangerous and was about to tell him so when deceased started'to , drive downhill. After going a few yards the lorry commenced to skid mid then turned over. Witness and other men ran to assist and found deceased pinned down across the upper part of the legs. Be was conscious. After the lorry was lifted deceased was taken to hospital.

medical superintendent of the Opotiki Hospital, Dr. H. J. Mail, said deceased suffered a severe fracture of the pelvis and internal injuries. Two operations were performed. Death was due to shock following the injury.

The coroner said the case was clearly one of inadvertence. Deceased had de"* cided to take the risk. No blame was attachable to anyone. A verdict in accordance witll the medical evidence was returned.