Coroner's Court BOY KILLED WHEN CYCLE HIT TRUCK

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29956, 18 October 1962, Page 13

Coroner's Court BOY KILLED WHEN CYCLE HIT TRUCK

Evidence that a boy on a bicycle wu "acting the tool and riding all over the road” before the bicycle crashed into the side of an articulated truck at the New Brighton road roundabout was given in the Coroner’s Court yesterday when an inquest into the death of Paul Bonnington, aged nine, was concluded. The Coroner (Mr A- T. Bell) found that Bonnington died on August 16 in New Brighton road from shock and hemorrhage from multiple injuries sustained when the bicycle he was riding collided with a truck driven by Donald David Wild.

Sergeant J. F. Waugh and Constable G. A. Lithgow appeared for the police at all inquests. Jeffrey Alexander Mcllroy, aged seven, a schoolboy, said that about 4.25 pan. on August 16 he was going with Bonnington to New Brighton to sell bottles. Bonnington was riding the bicycle and he was on the bar. They were on the New Brighton road roundabout when a big truck appeared. He told Bonnington to stop, and he tried to stop the bicycle by putting his foot in the front wheel. He then jumped off. Bonnington stayed on the bicycle, which ran into the truck. Bonnington had been acting the fool and riding all over the road before the accident. Donald David Wild said he was driving an articulated truck north along Oram avenue to Seaview road. He then turned left and travelled in a westerly direction along Seaview road to the roundabout. He did not see any traffic except for two boys on a bicycle near the kerb of the bridge. They appeared to be stationary. He drove around the roundabout and was about to enter New Brighton road when he felt the back wheels of the trailer bounce. He looked back and saw two boys lying on the ground and a bicycle nearby. When he ran back one boy was being helped to his feet, and the other was lying on the road. Stephen John Broker, aged 10. a schoolboy, said he saw the cycle run into the truck just in front ot the left back wheels. Eric Wilson Young, a personnel officer, said that two boys on a bicycle wobbled across the path of his car and he got the impression that the boy riding the cycle was tackling too ride up the slope of the bridge

STRUCK BY CAR Shock and hemorrhage from multiple injuries « jffered ca 7 h *n he was struck by • car in Racecourse road on A ugus* were found to have '•’Ujed the death of Charlea Edward Hack. .»ed 72. The Coroner added that it appeared that Hack was fairly intoxicated at the time sjyjsssWfJs Auru * 7. “H. “ very drunk, and I had to swerve my car to avoid hitting him.” he said. . The witness said he read about the accident in the paper nexr morning. The area was not well lighted. Neville Thomas Cowles said he spoke to Hack in the Racecourse Hotel just after 6 pn "He was very drunk and I could not tell what he was talking about.” he said. The ar ®® where the accident happened 15 The 7 driver of the car that struck Hack. Valerie Shirley June Davis, said she was ling south-west tn Racecourse road about 20 miles an when a man suddenly staggereo out in front of her car. She could not avoid striking him. The area was not well lighted Denis James Hogan, a tific officer attached to the Dominion Laboratory, Mid he, exarnined specimens taken froj” Hack. They showed a fairly considerable degree of Intoxication. FATAL COLLISION The Coroner found that Roger William McCorkindale. aged 23 died on June 17 at the Christchurch Hospital from fractures of the skull and contusions and lacerations of the brain sustained when the motor-scooter he was riding was Involved in a collision with a car driven by Robert Charles Hayward in Fitzgerald avenue. _ Edward Anthony Hott, ■ painter and decorator. M-o he was drinking with McCorkin. dale at a hotel between 1 prn and 3 p.m. They also had two. glasses of beer between # pm

and 8 p.m. McCorkindale left after midnight to go to Cathedral square on a borrowed motor-scooter to buy some cigarettes. That was the last time he saw him. Hayward said the motorscooter ridden by McCorkindale struck the side of his car. WOMAN S DEATH The Coroner found that Doris Emily Printz, aged 43, died on August 10 at 1 Rotherham street from poisoning from alcohol and barbiturates. Dr. W. M. Platts said he found Printz's body on the kitchen floor. It was clad in a dressing gown, and she appeared to have been dead for about six hours. Constable W. M. Nicholas said he found the body at 8 a.m. and took possession of some tablets. Printz was last seen alive by her 10-year-old son about midnight on the previous day. Denis James Hogan, a scientific officer of the Dominion Laboratory, said that specimens taken from the body contained alcohol and a small quantity of barbiturates.

Death was caused by alcohol and barbiturates, said Dr. P. A. E. Smith, • pathologist. There was no likelihood of the woman's taking an overdose of barbiturates, and death was caused by a combination of both. FATAL BURNS Dennis Hilary Rodgers, aged 78, was found to have died at the Burwood Hospital on August 27, the eause of death being toxaemia from extensive burns. Dr. W. P. Harper said that Rodgers was admitted to the Burwood Hospital on July 20 suffering from extensive bums. The Coroner said that when evidence of identification was given at an earlier date it appeared that Rodgers had been standing in front of a fire when his overcoat caught fire. SUICIDE Roy Alan Shopland Johnson, aged 46, was found to have committed suicide on August 3 at 6 Ross terrace, Lyttelton, the cause of death being asphyxia from poisoning. OTHER VERDICTS Virginia Gay McKay, aged 18, was found to have died on March 25 at the Christchurch Hospital, the cause of death being shock and hemorrhage from multiple injuries sustained when a car driven by Russel Hunter Lovelock, in which she was a passenger. and a car driven by Desmond French collided at the comer of Barbadoes and Worcester streets on March 24. Alfred Chadwick, aged 91, was found to have died on July 18 at the Christchurch Hospital, the cause of death being fractures of the skull and cerebral lacerations and contusions sustained when he was struck by a car driven by Maurice Percival Dunn in Milton street on July 12. Evidence in these two Inquests was partly heard last week.