Child Drowned In Drum

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31349, 20 April 1967, Page 8

Child Drowned In Drum

From the brown abrasions on the front of the legs, he believed that the child fell headlong into the drum partially filled with water, Dr. C. Moody said in a statement read to the Coroner (Mr A. T. Bell) in the Coroner’s Court yesterday afternoon. The Coroner found that Dion Peters, aged three, died at 155 Sawyers Arms road on February 17 from drowning when he fell into a drum of water. Evidence was given that the child’s parents searched for him. His father saw the reflection of his clothing in a drum in the window of a shed and pulled his son out of the 12-gallon drum by the legs. Mouth-to-mouth and mechanical resuscitation were attempted, but the child failed to respond. CAR "WRITTEN OFF” A car Involved In an accident in which a power-cycliet was killed was in such a bad condition that It had to be written off, the Coroner was told. Alexander Dewar Boag, aged 57, was found to have died at the Christchurch Hospital on February 20. The cause of death was lacerations and hemorrhages of the brain associated with a fracture of the skull suffered when the power-cycle he was riding collided with a car driven by Roger Sorokoput at the intersection of Innes road and Kensington avenue. George Edward Palmer, a vehicle inspector employed by the Transport Department, said Sorokoput’s car was in a rough mechanical state and was not up to warrant of fitness standard. The windscreen was extensively cracked and discoloured, limiting the driver’s visibility. The handbrake was useless and the steering was unsatisfactory. The accelerator pedal was adrift from the rod and could be jammed in either the shut or open positions. The gearbox wan so defective that it was not possible to keep the first gear engaged. The car was written off the road at Ms request by the police under section five of the Traffic Regulations, 1956, Palmer said.

Evidence was given that the collision occurred as the car was passing the power-cycle. Sorokoput said he thought that the power-cyclist was frightened by the Transport Board bus coming out of Kensington avenue, swerved and struck the side of the car.

Aubrey Hay, a plasterer, said the power-cydist seemed to swerve.

George Henry Humphries, a bus driver, said the powercyclist did not alter course and he thought the car overtook too close. CAR HIT POLE Alan Spencer Ayrey, aged 21, was found to have died on February 11 on the Main South road at Burnham, the cause of death being a massive hemorrhage caused by multiple internal injuries and fractures suffered when the car he was driving struck a pole. Evidence was given that Ayrey who was a student doing hts compulsory military training at Burnham Military Camp, was returning to camp when the accident occurred. There were no witnesses to the accident. Gerald Leslie Pierce, a commercial traveller, and Harold Edward Baker, found Ayrey’s body beside the wrecked car. DIED AFTER ACCIDENT Gilbert Daniel Williamson, aged 63, was found to have died at the Christchurch Hospital on March 13, the cause of death being toxemia due to lobar pneumonia in association with pulmonary embolisation, coronary arterloscleroßiß and myocardial fibrosis, a fracture of the left leg and an operation.

Evldence was given that Williamson suffered head and leginjuries when a car, driven by his wife, Eileen May Williamson, failed to take a bend on the Main North road, north of Kalapol, on December 7, and ran into a ditch. PASSENGER FATALLY INJURED Peter James Duncan, aged 31, was found to have died on November 11 at the Glasnevin railway crossing near Amberley, the cause of death being cardiorespiratory failure due to fractures of the skull and lacerations of the brain suffered when a car driven by Stephen John O’Brien, In which he was a passenger, failed to take the bend at the crossing, ran off the road and crashed on to the railway line.

DIED AFTER OPERATION Murray John Fowler, aged SS, was found to have died at the Christchurch Hospital on March

10, the cause of death being acute heart failure due to compression of the spinal cord and respiratory restriction due to old tuberculosis and collapse of the thoracic spine after an operation.

SUICIDE VERDICTS The Coroner said that the approval of the Solicitor-General had been obtained Into holding an Inquest Into the death of Douglas George Crombie, aged 41, as the body had not been recovered.

It was found that Crombie died on May 22, 1962, between Lyttelton and Wellington, having committed suicide, apparently having Jumped from the t.e.v. Maori into the sea, the cause of death being unknown. Albert James Hltchlngs, aged 7S, was found to have died on March 4 at 2 Waltakl street. New Brighton, having committed suicide, the cause of death being hanging.