Motor-Cyclist Fatally Hurt In Race With Car

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30093, 29 March 1963, Page 12

Motor-Cyclist Fatally Hurt In Race With Car

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, March 28. A race between a car and a motor-cycle, along Taita drive, Lower Hutt, which ended in a collision between the two vehicles, ultimately resulted in the death of the motor-cyclist. At an inquest at Lower Hutt today the Coroner (Mr P Keesing) found that the motor-cyclist. Peter Robert Edhouse, aged 18, a freezing worker, died from pneumonia after his admission to Hospital The driver of the car, James Stuart Robertson, told how, while at a party at Edhouse’s uncle's home, he and Edhouse decided to have a race. They raced for about a mile at about 35 miles an hour, then turned round and raced back at 45 miles an hour. While Robertson was making a sweeping left, then right-hand turn, Edhouse’s cycle struck the car, glanced off. and struck a parked car. Edhouse, who was thrown from his machine, was found!

unconscious, with his safety helmet still on his head. Ross Allistair Storey, who was also ait the party, said he saw the two racing at speeds to 50 miles an hour He said Edhouse had only had his motor-cycle a week and had obtained his provisional licence a day or two before the accident. “It’s very seldom that head injuries result in death when the person is wearing a safety helmet,” said the Coroner, giving his finding.