INQUESTS HELD AT REEFTON

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29077, 14 December 1959, Page 16

INQUESTS HELD AT REEFTON

Driver Drowned In Submerged Truck

(From Our Own Reporter) GREYMOUTH. December 13-

When a truck driven by Colin Athol Wells, a young man of Motueka, ran off the highway near Oweka, 11 miles from Cronadun, in the early hours of August 15, it plunged into the Inangahua river. It was some days before it was recovered and the body of Wells was found inside.

At an Inquest held in Reefton the District Coroner, Mr A. 3. Wilson, of Greymouth, found that Wells had died of asphyxia due to drowning about 3 a.m. on August 15.

The evidence of Bernard Freeman Patrick Conlon, of Wellington, was to the effect that he and his wife had travelled in Wells’s truck from Lyell to Reefton, where they drank beer after hours for about an hour and a half They then went to the New Zealand Electricity Department’s substation in search of friends, who. however were not at home. From there they travelled to Cronadun where they consumed more liquor. Deceased, whom witness considered to be quite fit to drive his truck, left the hotel alone, witness and his wife returning to the sub-station.

Dr. J. L. Dunscombe, pathologist, of Greymouth, said he had conducted a post-mortem examination on the body of Wells and, although he found traces of alcohol, his opinion was that death was due to asphyxia by drowning. Constable J. W. Moore, of Reefton. gave details of the finding of the truck and the body. The doors of the truck were closed and the ignition key turned off. FATALITY ON LEWIS PASS A verdict that Thelma Jean Donnelly, aged 38, of Nelson, had died about 11.30 a.m. on October 9 from injuries received when the car she was driving went off the road and overturned, was returned by the Coroner, who added that death was caused by haemorrhage due to a ruptured spleen.

Constable Moore, of Reefton, described the condition of the car which, in his opinion, had somersaulted a distance of 14ft where a heap of glass was found, apparently from the back window. From that point the car evidently somersaulted again for a distance of 13ft across the excavation and back on to the road.

In witness’s opinion the accident was caused by excessive speed prior to the accident. Dr. Dunscombe, who conducted a post-mortem examination, said there was external bruising and lacerations, internal Injuries included multiple lacerations of the capsule of the spleen and fractures of ribs and clavicle.