FATAL MOTOR SMASH.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17807, 5 July 1923, Page 5

FATAL MOTOR SMASH.

INQUEST ON A. BRABNER.

The inquest touching the death of Andrew Brabner, a married man, 54 years of age, who received fatal injuries in a motor collision at the corner of Oilivier's road and Worcester street on Saturday evening, was coneluded by the Coroaer, Mr H. Y. Widdowson, yesterday. Mr Brabner was a member of tho firm of Brabner's, Ltd., carriage and motor builders. He was riding a motor-cycle when it collided with a motor lorry, driven by Charles Justin McCarthy. His death occurred at the Christchnrch. Hospital last Sunday.

Sergt. A. G. Quartermain conducted tho enquiry. Mr P. P. J. Amodeo represented the driver of the lorry, and Mr K. G. Archer appeared on behalf of Brabner's relatives.

Hector Bawlings, a director of Brabner's, Ltd., oaid ho had been working with deceased at the office on the evening of tho accident. After pumping up a flat tyre in his motor-cycle, Brabner tried to light tho acetylene lamp. After failing to light it, ho said, "Oh, I'll be home soon," and rode off. The machine was a 2J h.p. Douglas. It was about 5.80 when Brabner left the office. Tho night was dark, and s storm seemed to be coming on. Deceased wore glasses when he was working, but not wjken he was in the street.

Charles Justin McCarthy, motor driver for tho Lichfield Coal Co., said he was driving a lorry westward along Worcester street, Linwood, on Saturday. He was coming from New Brighton, and he.passed Oilivier's road at about 0.30 p.m. "A. kerosene lamp was burning on 'tho; lorry. . Another rnaii, Richard Moorfield, was with him. Witness had n6 drink at all before leaving New Brighton. ''Half-way between TB,ncred street and> Oilivier's road 1 iaoticod tho shadow of something in front," said-witness. "I put on mv brakes, and about the same time I heard tho crash. Then I noticed tho man on the right side of my car. The other man who was travelling with me was thrown out. After the impact I lost control of the steering, and my lorry, swerved off to the right. I had been travelling well on- the correct side of the road.. The car ran about 40 feet boforo it stoppod. I lost control through the impact breaking tin steering tie-rod. The truck is a oneton Talbot, and its maximum speed is 80 miles per hour. I was travelling at about 14 miles per hour. I have a certificate of ability, and have been driving for 13 years." Witness said that when the lorry stopped deceased was caught between the wheel and the wind-screen. I£a was unconscious, and appeared to lis badly injured. Brabner struck the right side of the wind-screen, and .was thrown on, to: tho lorry.-

To the Coroner: That was tho first time ho had been out with the •lorjy. afcter dark. It was. fitted, with carbide lamps, but they were not in working order. 'lt was raining heavily wie'n the accident happened, and the weather wis very thick. The wind was, blowing hard'from the south-west. As the engine was hot pulling well he had changed from top" to third gear prior to the accident. To ;Mf iAmodeo: He had Jhad no drink,whatever, that day. ' '•'- •: To Sergt. Quartermain: The lamp which .was .smoked slightly was fixed on the right side of the lorry. , A tram came along immediately after the accident, and Brabner was taken to vßarbadoea street on it.

S Kichard Moorfield,. a machinist,. re,sjdiftg?:atejlJ^ corroborated the evidonce of McCarthy. Beferring to the accident he said: " i felt a bump, the car swerved, and I was thrown off." The tram witu Brabner on board mado a non-Btop run to Barbadooß streot, from whence the ambulance; .took him to. the Hospital. The lorry was 1 travelling at from 12 to 15 miles per hour at the time of the accident; ~ .-."''•

Constable A. H. Williams, stationed at Linwood, said that McCarthy was quito sober after, the accident.:' Tho lamp on the lorry was not alight, and tho.glass Was black and streaky. Witness considered the lamp would not give a good light. He thought that the bicycle must hove ; come at a fair speed, and hit the lorry on the axle between the wheel and. the radiator. He considered that the fact that the lorry went a distance of 40 feet after the impact made no difference to the condition of the man. The road marks showed that the lorry was on its correct side, the left-hand wheel having been running about 1(5 feet from the footpath. .The tram lines wero only lift* Gin from the other side of the road, and feiy few motor cyclists going the left-hand portion of the road, aa it was dangerous at night. There was an electric street light near the scene of the accident. The Coroner: When v Ou examined the lorry, did you find any horn!— No. McCarthy stated that he had a horn on tte lorry, but it was broken off by the accident. Moorfield corroborate! that statement.

The Coroner traversed the evidence, and said it appenrod that after the ac-. cident, Brabner was conveyed with nil) speed to the Hospital Whilo at the Hospital he had received every attention, but he had only lingered on until the next day. The night had evidently been very, dark and stormy, and it was raining heavily. -The constable considered that the light on the lorry was not:, a good one. There was a clear inference that the deceased was set riding on his proper side The lorry was on its. proper, side, and there was nothing against the driver oh that score. It was probably to McCarthy's advantage that he had a kerosene light and not a powerful. acetylene' lamp which set up a wall of light. But it was also, probable that if deceased had Been a good light he would hare been able to avoid tho accident. < A group of circumstances had contributed to the accident. It was a very dirty night, and Brabner was riding on the wrong side of the road without a light. The only point against the driver of the lorry was that he hadVhad a poor lamp, otherwise he.seemed to be blameless. The verdict would bo that the deceased died from shock following a direct injury to the brain, ■ caused by him accidentally striking his i head against the framework of the I screen of a lorry in a'collision which took place in Worcester street, Liu-' wood, on June 30th, at 5.30 p,m. Mr Amodeo, on behalf of McCarthy, expressed sympathy with the relatives of deceased. "I am sure all of us extend our sympathy to them," said the Coroner.