OLD MAN'S DEATH

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21290, 9 October 1934, Page 9

OLD MAN'S DEATH

♦ KNOCKED FROM BICYCLE IN PAPANUI ROAD An inquest into the death of Robert Young, aged 81 years, who lived in Aikman's road, was held before the coroner, Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. Young was knocked off his bicycle in Papanui road on August 3; he was admitted to the Public Hospital, and died on August 24. A verdict was returned that his death was due to internal bronchial pneumonia, contributing factors being his age, and shock caused when he was knocked from his bicycle and suffered a broken thigh, in a collision with Keith Munro William McDonald.

Sergeant F. C. Harrison conducted the case for the police. Dr. Leslie P. Clark, a house surgeon at the hospital, said that Young was admitted to the hospital on August 3, suffering a fracture of the right thigh. It was put into plaster two days later, and about August 20 Young showed signs of failing. He died on August 24. Death was due to internal bronchial pneumonia, contributing factors being his age and shock from the accident. Keith Munro William McDonald, aged 16 years, said that about 4.30 p.m. on August 3 he was cycling out of town along Papanui road. He had a carrier, containing goods, on the front of his bicycle, and he was on the correct side of the road. He overtook an old man on a bicycle, just ahead of a stationary bread-van. As the passed, the old man steered out towards the middle of the road, and the handlebars of his machine struck the carrier on the iront of witness's bicycle. The old man was thrown off Witness did not know v/hy the old man swerved to his right. There was a car coming towards them and because of this witness could not go farther out. After the accident witness went back to the old man, who was picked up by a passing car and taken to his home. Witness understood that he was suffering from shock. Frederick Arthur James, driver of a bread-van, said that his van was stationary on the side of the road just behind Young when the accident occurred. A boy on a bicycle attempted to pass the old man, by cutting between him and the van. The boy attempted to pass the man on the inside. Mervyn James Sellwood, the vandriver's assistant, gave corroborative evidence. McDonald, recalled by the Magistrate, repeated that he had passed the man on the outside.