Tribute paid at inquest

Press, 18 June 1986, Page 7

Tribute paid at inquest

A tribute was paid to Mr Rex Lester, a former Christchurch City Councillor, when details of his death came before the Coroner, Mr A. N. McLean, yesterday.

Mr McLean said Mr Lester had given much to the city, and had much more to give. His death was a particularly sad case. The Coroner found that Mr Lester had died from multiple serious injuries received in a motor accident on the Main South Road, Templeton, on April 10 this year. Constable William Harold Chamberlain told the court Mr Lester had been travelling south on the Main South Road about 9 a.m. on April 8. Soon after passing an articulated truck he stopped without warning in the centre of the road near the intersection with Barters and Marshes roads. The following truck clipped the rear of Mr Lester’s station-waggon and pushed it into the path of a north-bound truck. The driver of the northbound truck, Mr Grant Lamont Magson, said the station-waggon “shot like a bullet” in front of him. “There was no time to do anything,” he said. He had seen Mr Lester’s car stop partly over the white centre-line. He assumed he was going to 1 turn right, but saw no indicators. The driver of the articulated truck, Mr Richard Wilson, said he had pulled over to allow Mr Lester to pass. Almost as soon as he had passed, the station-

waggon stopped in the middle on the road. Mr Wilson said he saw no indicators or red brake lights. Nothing had been done to indicate the vehicle was slowing or changing direction.

He was about two car lengths behind the stationwaggon before he realised it had stopped. He braked and swerved to the left, but clipped the rear of the vehicle.

A witness, Mr Mark John Van Leeuwarden, said the articulated truck was about one-and-a-half car lengths behind the station-waggon. The station-waggon braked suddenly at the intersection, but gave no indication for turning. An automotive surveyor with the Ministry of Transport, Mr Wayne. Kelvin Yarrall, examined the station waggon.

An external test on the right-rear brake light showed it to be working satisfactorily. The right, rear indicator bulb worked, but it was difficult to tell if the indicator was working before the accident. The Coroner said neither truck driver should feel responsible for the accident. It had been an unfortunate combination of events.