MOTOR-CYCLIST'S DEATH.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20499, 18 March 1932, Page 8

MOTOR-CYCLIST'S DEATH.

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST. CORONER COMMENTS ON SPEED. The adjourned inquest the death of Frederick Swecdland Homeman, a single man, aged 23, of 120 Rossall street, Merivale, who died as a result of injuries received when his motor-cyclo collided with a car driven by Frederick Arthur Ellis, in Poplar avenue, Beach road, Kaiapoi, on January 30th, was held at the Ivaiapoi Courthouse yesterday before Mr E. 1). Mosley, Coroner. Constable 1. Holme conducted the proceedings lor the police. Frederick A. ElJis, custodian for the Kaiapoi Working Men's Club, said that at 8.50 p.m. on January 30th he left his home to drive to Kairaki Beach, driving a three-seater car and travelling via Meadow road. About 500 yards from Poplar avenue, ho saw a light flash among the trees. He was travelling in second gear, and glowed down when turning into the Beach road. He sounded the horn, glanced to the right, and everything appeared clear along the road. When passing the trees he caught n flash of light, put his brakes hard on, and the next thing he remembered was a sudden crash. As a result of the accident he sustained injuries to the head and was taken to Christchurch Hospital. His lights were full on. The night was clear, and the visibility was good. He estimated his speed at 10 miles an hour. Mrs E. S. Ellis, who accompanied her husband, gave corroborative evidence. She stated that Mr Ellis had been driving the car for about eight months and was a careful driver. R. Gr. Stark, farmer, of Meadow road, said that at the time of the accident, he was talking to Mr C. Driscoll on the North road. Witness heard the crash and ran to the scene of the accident and found Horneman lying under the motor-cycle, and Miss Baker, the pillion-rider, was thrown off the road. Witness called a doctor. Pillion-Rider's Evidence. Kathleen R. J. Baker, who accompanied Horneman as pillion-rider, to attend a dance at the Pines, said that they were returning to Kaiapoi and were not travelling fast. Witness was sitting with her hands in the pockets of her coat. The light of the motorcycle was burning. At the intersection of • Meadow road and Beach road she saw a car and remembered nothing further. She sustained cuts, and a fractured cheek bone, and was conveyed to the Hospital. To counsel for Ellis, witness said she met Horneman at 8.30 p.m. Horneman had had nothing to drink and was absolutely sober. She did not remember meeting other people travelling to the beach. They were travelling at a slow speed and not conversing. To counsel for Horneman's relatives: iSfoe could not sit with her hands in her pockets if they had been going at any great speed. She had been with Horneman before, and he was a care, fill driver. She did not see the lights of the car, but just had time to sue the car, and that was all she remembered.; 1o the Coroner witness said they were going to a dance at Tuahiwi. They Were a little late, but intended going there. The Speedometer Beading. Constable M. Conway gave evidence of visiting the scene of the accident and submitted a plan of measurement. The motor-cycle speedometer had stopped at 46 miles per hour. Ronald L. Kennett, watchmaker, of Christchurch, gave evidence that the speed registered on the speedometer would be the speed of the motor-cycle at the time of the accident. The speedometer was not likely to show a greater speed than the vehicle had been travelling at the time of the accident. Charles H. Goodman, motor mechanic, said' he was cycling to Kairaki on the night of the accident. At the beach end of Poplar avenue he saw a _ motor-cyclist coming directly towards him. He swerved off the road on to the grass and called out "Keep on your right side!" ' He estimated the motor-cyclist's speed at 30 to 35 miles an hour. James D. McMullan said he was driving a car along Poplar avenue a little before '9 p.m. About seven or eight chains past Meadow road a motor-cyclist had passed him, travelling fast. He and his wife had commented on the speed the motor-cycle was going. No other motorcycle had passed him on the way down. Owen N. Williams, garage proprietor, gave evidence of inspecting the marks of the vehicle's tracks. The front right-hand wheel of the car had been pushed two and a half feet to the left. • Coroner's Remarks. The Coroner stated that it of great advantage to him to have inspected' the scene of the accident and the motor-cycle> and the car. Photographs produced materially assisted the Court. On listening to the evidence he had come to the conclusion that the motor-cyclist was travelling at a great speed on a narrow road where there was not much room. The lane leading into it was from a hollow and was partly concealed by poplar trees. Evidence of witnesses proved that Horneman was travelling at an excessive speed, and the evidence of the speedometer, which was not likely to show more than the actual speed of the vehicle at the time of the accident, was at 46 1-3 miles per hour. Care was necessary on the part of persons driving out of Meadow road, and although Mr Ellis cut the corner, he did not think this contributed to the accident. Mr Ellis drove carefully and slowly. A verdict was returned that Horneman died at the Jubilee Hospital on January 31st, 1932, his death being duo to injuries and shock received when the motor-cyclo which he was riding with a pillion rider thereon came into collision with a motor-car, driven by Frederick Arthur Ellis on Poplar avenue, Kaiapoi, on January 30th.