Coroner's Court Truck Trailer Struck Girl Running Across Road

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29992, 29 November 1962, Page 7

Coroner's Court Truck Trailer Struck Girl Running Across Road

A three-year-old girl, fatally injured when she was struck by a trailer attached to a truck, was chasing her . two brothers across Bower avenue on September 14, according to evidence given in the Coroner’s Court yesterday. The Coroner (Mr A T. Bell) found that the girl. Mina Irirangi Manihere, died ' on September 14 from cervical and thoracic vertebrae . fractures with contusions of the spinal cord, suffered when she ran into a truck trailer , in Bower avenue on the same • day. • Sergeant J. A McPhee and , Constable G. A Lithgow appeared for the police in all • inquests. • David Merritt, aged 32. said he was driving a truck in Bower avenue about 3 5 pm. His speed was about 25 miles an hour. He saw 15 children playing on the footpaths on each side of the road. He slowed to allow a small boy to cross the road, and when moving off again he saw a small girl about 4ft away from the cab of the truck. After the impact he stopped the truck and went back to the girl. who was lying on the road and bleeding from the mouth In his opinion the accident was caused by the girl s running out on to the road, said the witness. Ann Elizabeth Ritchie, aged 12. said she w'as standing on the footpath on the west side of the avenue when the girl ran across after her two brothers. She called out to her to come back, but she only altered course and ran down the middle of the road away from the truck. She was hit by the trailer. Another eye-witness. Rose Helen Lochhead, said that the child ran into the trailer. STRUCK BY TRUCK Frederick Theo Butler, aged 50, was found to have died of injuries suffered when he was struck by a truck in M >orhouse avenue on September 19 Mr P M. Joyce appeared for Butler's wife, and the ; truck driver, Douglas Inkster,! 1 was represented by Mr C. B. 1 Atkinson. 1

In evidence, Inkster said he was travelling east towards Madras street when Butler ran across the road m front of him. Butler had a full sugar bag over his shoulder. The witness said he braked hard, but could not avoid Butler. Another witness said he saw Butler run across Moorhouse avenue to avoid a car. He was still running when he was struck by the truck. ADJOURNED An inquest into the death of Henry Nankivell Andrew Frame, aged 21, was adjourned sine die to the Fairlie Coroner’s Court after the evidence of one witness had been taken. Mr G. T. Mahon appeared for Frame's mother. The witness; Malcolm Roy Ireland, said that he left Christchurch on October 19 with Frame and other members of the Wanderers’ Travelling Club. On October 21 the witness. Frame, and two other club members started to climb Annette ridge about 9 a.m.

The witness said that he and Frame separated from the other climbers. On a ridge 5000 ft up he did not feel well, and he stayed behind while Frame went on. That was the last time he saw Frame. SUICIDE VERDICTS Gilbert William Hutton, aged 33, was found to have committed suicide on September 26. the cause of death being fractures of the skull and lacerations and contusions of the brain from a gunshot wound.

Mervyn Charles McGrath, aged 38, was found to have committed suicide on or about September 22, the cause of death being lacerations of the heart from a gunshot wound. Staveley Michael Anker, aged 21, was found to have committed suicide on September 23, the cause of death being fractures of the skull and lacerations of the brain from a bullet wound. The Coroner found that Marata Lemon, aged 56, committed suicide on September 16, the cause of death being asphyxia from hanging.