FATAL COLLISION.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19669, 12 July 1929, Page 9

FATAL COLLISION.

SOUTH ROAD ACCIDENT. INQUEST HELD. All suffering from head injuries, a family of four people, together with another man, were admitted to the Hospital on the night of June 30th as a result of a collision between a motor-cyclo and side-car, on which they were riding, and a cart, on the Main South road, between Sockburn and Hornby. Benjamin Henry Bright, 52 years of age, died in the Hospital on July 7th, from injuries received, and an inquest into the' cause of his death was held yesterday before Mr E. C. Lewey, S.M. , . , „ Mr M. J. Burns appeared for J. <j. Potter, the driver of the motor-cycle. Dr. A. B. Pearson, pathologist at the Christchurch Hospital, said that the cause of Bright's death was compression of the brain, associated with fracture of the skull. There were extensive injuries to the skull and it was remarkable that he lived so long. James Gotham Potter, driver of the motor-cycle and side-car whereon Bright was pillion-riding, said that the party left Sockburn at 2 p.m. In the side-car were witness's wife and two boys. They went to his brother-in-law's house, and left there at 7 p.m., riding in the same positions as before. They then went to liis mother-in-law's house at Hornby, staying there until 9 p.m. On the way home there was a slight mist. There were no lights on the road. Witness had ! an electric light full on, and they proceeded down the Main South road _at 1 20 miles an hour. They were going round a bend when he saw a cart a few feet ahead. Witness swerved, but too late, and the side-car hit a wheel of the cart. He did not remember seeing a light on the back of the cart. Both vehicles were on the left-hand side of the concrete, which was about 16ft wide To Mr Burns: The side-car was a big one He was an experienced driver and was not cramped m any way by the number of people on the combination. John Chamberlain, poultry-farmer, of 48 Hoon Hay road, said that at 9 p.m. on June 30th driving his cart on the Main South road towards Sockburn. At Hornby he heard a motor-cycle approaching . from the rear. Just after he turned a bend there was a bunvp ana witness was shot out of the cart landing on his feet on the road The horse was knocked down also, when it got up it bolted. Both sharts were broken and the axle was bent. He caught the horse some distance away He rang for the ambulance and returned to the scene of the accident, to find that the ambulance had taken the injured people to the Hospital. Witness had one carriage lamp on the right splashboard cf the cart. It showed a white light in front and a red light at the back, and he was sure that it was burning at the time of the accident. To Mr Burns: The lamp was put out bv the smash. _ "Thomas Webb, labourer, Hornby, said that he was cycling near tbe scene of the accident. He remembered seeing a horse and cart eoing in the direction of Sockburn. The cart had a light and was on its correct side of the road. The motor-cycle and sidecar were a little behind the cart. On hearing a crash witness went back and found - two men on the road. The engine was still running. The motorcycle had its headlight burning but witness did not know if there was a light on the side-car. . It seemed to travel at a reasonable speed. The vehicles were running one beiiind the

other, well on the left-hand side of the road. The following verdict was returned: That Bright died on July 7th from compression of the brain, following haemorrhage of the surface of the brain associated with fracture of the skull, which injuries were received bv Bright being thrown from the motorcycle on which he was riding pillion, when the motor-cycle collided with a cart on £he Main South road.