CORONER’S COURT Woman Died After Car Went Over Bank Near Cass

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31504, 19 October 1967, Page 21

CORONER’S COURT Woman Died After Car Went Over Bank Near Cass

After passing a vehicle on the West Coast Road, five miles west of Cass, a car driven by a woman began to sway from one side of the road to the other. It then plunged 100 ft down a steep bank, according to evidence given in the Coroner’s Court yesterday afternoon. The Coroner (Mr A. T. Bell) found that Joan Smith, aged 46. married, of 28 Olivine Street, Christchurch, died on August 25 in the Christchurch Hospital, the cause of death being broncho pneumonia after a fracture of the spine suffered when the car she was driving went over a bank.

John Patrick Lilley, a van driver, said at 1.30 p.m. on August 13 he was driving a vehicle west on the West Coast Road. His wife and four young children were in the vehicle.

When going up an incline he changed down and was travelling about 25 miles an hour when he was passed by a car. The vehicle got about 100 yards ahead of him and then began to sway back and forth. He thought it was going to hit a cliff face and then it went over a bank. Mr Lilley said he could not get down to the car, which came to rest about 100 ft down from the road, as the bank was too steep. He went to the Ministry of Works Camp at Cass and two employees went to the scene. He also telephoned the Darfield police. Constable R. G. Cook, of Otira, said Mrs Smith was attended by Dr J. W. Avery, of Darfield. She was lying in a semi-conscious state in the front seat She had suffered severe spinal injuries and could not speak. CHILD BURNED

Gyles Leonard Crawford, aged two’, was found to have died on August IS. at Burwood Hos-

pital, the cause of death being septicaemia following extensive burns suffered when his clothing caught fire when he was playing with matches in his home at Methven on July 21.

The child’s mother had pre viously given evidence that she had found him standing in the middle of the kitchen with his clothing in flames. There were matches scattered all over the floor. The matches had been in her handbag. Constable G. A. Lithgow read the evidence of Dr R. J. Stewart. who said that the boy was admitted to Burwood Hospital on July 21 suffering from third degree burns to 40 per cent of his body. On August 10 he became acutely ill and his condition steadily deteriorated.

DIED AFTER COLLISION Thomas James Kevern. aged 76. was found to have died on the way to Christchurch Hospital on August 31, from lacerations and haemorrhage of the brain, and fractures of the skull suffered when the van he was driving and a car driven by Richard Lincoln Vincent, a panel beater, collided at the intersection of Clarence Street and Blenheim Road on that day.

Vincent said in evidence that he was driving on Blenheim Road towards the city about 5 p.m. when a van entered the intersection from a stop sign on his right at Clarence street. He had no chance to avoid the collision. Two persons in the van were thrown out by the im- ! pact. BOY CYCLIST KILLED Gregory John Rowland, aged 13. was found to have died on August 11 at Rangiora, the cause of death being laceration and haemorrhage of the brain and a fracture of the skull suf fered when the cycle he was riding on Ashley Street was struck by a car driven by William Grant Stringer, aged 18, a farmhand. Constable E. G. Smith said that there was no rear red light or reflector on the cycle. The accident occurred about 7.40 p.m. DIED AFTER OPERATION Clarence Gordon Amyes. aged 69. was found to have died on August 26 at St George s Hos pital, the cause of death being acute heart failure due to heart disease. Evidence was given that Mr Amyes died after an operation.

FELL DOWN STAIRS The Coroner found that Sarah Alice Stewart, aged 84. died on August 19, from bilateral broncho pneumonia and lacera-

tions of the brain suffered when she fell down the stairs at her home at 22 Richmond Hill Road on August 16.

SUICIDE VERDICTS Thomas Leopold Mamport, aged 82, was found to have committed suicide at 471 Gloucester Street on August JI, the cause of death being shock and haemorrhage caused by a shotgun wound in the chest. Daisy Isobel Jones, aged 69, was found to have committed suicide at 176 Geraldine Street on August 23. the cause of death being asphyxia due to hanging. No Quorum Of Creditors A meeting of the creditors of William John Hunt, aged 23, a barman, was adjourned sine die because there was no quorum, at the office of the Official Assignee in Christchurch yesterday. Hunt, of 484 Armagh Street, said he had unsecured creditors of $1778.13 and no assets. He was a married man but without children.