Exhaust Fumes Cause Death Of Child

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32382, 22 August 1970, Page 15

Exhaust Fumes Cause Death Of Child

(From Our Own Reporter) TIMARU. “This tragedy serves as a grim reminder of what effects carbon monoxide gas can have in a defective car, and it is purely by chance that the other three children did not die in the same way," said the Timaru District Coroner (Mr E. G. Bradley) on Thursday. He found at an adjourned inquest, that Ernest Charles Stringer, aged seven, of 63A Old North Road, Timaru, died between the Seiwyn bridge and Timaru, on June 20, from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by the accidental escape of exhaust gas into the car in which he was travelling as a passenger. Trevor Raymond Hill, aged 21, a labourer, of 45 Barton Street, Christchurch, said that he was driving towards Timaru when a car came from behind and hit his car, causing it tn go into a slide. “1 slid into a bank on the side of the road. I had only driven about 200 yards after the accident when the car filled with black smoke. After waiting for the smoke to go from inside the car I had to drive at about 30 m.p.h., because smoke was still coming into the car,” said the witness. Mr Hill’s mother, Violet Myrtle Hill, said she went

with her four children to the Templeton farm school to , collect Ernest Stringer and ! take him to his home in TiJ maru. She said that after the I accident they had to wait for . the smoke to clear before they could continue their ' journey. “After a short while Ernie started to go to sleep, ’ and I told him to lie down on the back seat, which he i did. My son Gary also slept after the accident until we ’ reached Timaru, and as my ’ children were sick and be- ' cause Ernie would not wake up, I took them to see the ; doctor at the Timaru Hospital,” said Mrs Hill. ' Evidence was given by Constable A. I. Vasta, who examined the vehicle involved. "It was in a rough condiI tion, and when I opened the • door to look inside there was I a strong smell of exhaust ■ fumes coming out,” he said. 1 The vehicle was considered ’ not up to warrant-of-fitness 1 standard, said the constable. ! A report from the Depart--1 ment of Scientific and Indus- ■ trial Research showed that a • sample of blood taken from • the deceased contained car--1 bon monoxide to the extent ! of 50 per cent of the satura--5 tion value.