Coroner's Court Driver Killed Instantly When Car Hit Pole

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31040, 21 April 1966, Page 9

Coroner's Court Driver Killed Instantly When Car Hit Pole

A driver was killed instantly when his car, travelling at a high speed, skidded into a pole at the corner of Pages road and Cuffs road, according to evidence given in the Coroner's Court yesterday afternoon. The Coroner (Mr A. T. Bell) found that Euan Wigram Dallard, aged 21, died on January 21 at the corner of Pages road and Cuffs road from multiple injuries suffered when the car he was drivI ing at an excessive speed struck a pole. Anthony Bryce Dennis, a, :manager. whose evidence was; ! taken at an earlier hearing, [said that about 12.30 am. he was driving along Pages road towards the city when his vehicle was overtaken by a car travelling an estimated 70 miles an hour near Cowles stadium. The car nearly went out of control when taking the S bend near Cuffs road and came within about 4ft of the kerb. Dennis said he speeded up his vehicle because he was curious about the other car. “As I came around the first bend I saw the car shuddering sideways at a terrific speed,” the witness said. “I don’t think the driver realised he was going into the bend until he was in the bend. I think he tried to correct the skid but failed to do so. I saw the car hit the pole, and all I was aware of was glass hurling out and other objects flying from the car. I looked in the car and saw that the driver appeared to be dead.” Robert Kevin Proctor, an auto electrician, said he left Hawke street to return to town and he thought Dallard was following him in his car. When he saw Dallard was not behind him he turned around and in Pages road near the Christchurch Drainage Board works he saw head-lights approaching. This car hit a lamppost. He and Dallard had a few beers at Hawke street, but he considered Dallard was sober. Constable B. F. Dearden said that Dallard’s vehicle left skid marks of 180 ft. The doctor who examined the driver found that death had been instantaneous. George Edward Palmer, a senior vehicle inspector employed by the Transport Department, said the car was wrecked. The vehicle had been in a fairly rough condition before the accident. To a question by the Coroner, Leslie Wilkinson, a scientist employed by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, said that there was a substantial amount of alcohol in Dallard’s blood, and it would make driving at speed dangerous. Dr. I. H. W. Squires, called by Mr N. W. Williamson, who appeared for Dallard’s relatives, said that Dallard had consulted him on a number of occasions about epilepsy, and he had prescribed drugs for him. He had warned Dallard not to drink to excess. To the Coroner the witness said the tablets would agravate the effects of the liquor, and Dallard’s judgment would be affected. “If Dallard had observed the speed limit he would be here today,” the Coroner said. DROWNED John Mortimer Barbour, aged 55, was found to have drowned at Lyttelton on December 27. Constable N. F. Smith, of Lyttelton, read a statement made by Cecil Grace, third engineer in the m.v. Calm. Grace said that on the afternoon of December 27 he went with Barbour to the Valley Inn, Heathcote, and then to the Mitre Hotel in Lyttelton. When Barbour left about 7.45 p.m. he was very unsteady, as he had had a large number of neat whiskies during the day. Terrence John Patrick Hickland, a sales representative, said that about 1 p.m. on December 28 he was fishing on Gladstone pier when his son told him there was a body in the water under the pier. He found the body lodged in the rocks. It could not be seen from the top of the pier. Constable G. E. Dovle said that Barbour was chief engineer of the Kopara. A C. 1.8. investigation did not disclose any evidence of foul play. It appeared that Barbour fell from the gangway, which was on an angle of about 45 degrees, struck his head, and was drowned in the harbour. CYCLIST KILLED Graham Tweedie, aged 10, was found to have died on

January 21 at the corner of Epsom road and Greenhurst street, the cause of death being a broken neck suffered when the cycle he was riding and a vehicle driven by Bevis Arlington Turner collided. Michael Bede O'Malley, aged 12, said that Tweedie was riding his cycle along; Greenhurst street on the footpath as they were going home from the Sockburn Park swimming pool. Bevis Arlington Turner, a director of a carrying company, said the boy suddenly appeared in front of his ve-l hide from the left. SUICIDE Gordon Eran Griffiths, aged 37. was found to have committed suicide at 33 Brabourne street on January 23 by poisoning. Kevin James Creedy, aged 20, was found to have died at the Christchurch Hospital and January 23, having committed suicide by poisoning. William James Poulter, aged 47, was found to have committed suicide in St. James’s Park on December 25 by poisoning.