MOTOR FATALITY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1176, 11 July 1911, Page 4

MOTOR FATALITY.

« ON LTWBTON QUAY. AN ELDEBLY MAN THE VICTIM. A sad accident occurred on Lambton Quay last evening, resulting in (he death of an elderly man, named Frederick Hunt, who was knocked down by a motorear and so scvorriy injured that he succumbed a few hours Inter. Deceased was u married man, (iO years of age, a gardener by. occupation, and a resident of 111 lliropi Street. While crossing Lambton Quay, opposite the Public Trust Ol'ice, about hall-past 5 o'clock ho was knocked down by Dr. Kwnrt's motorcar. After being removed to the National Hotel and attended to by Dr. Kwnrt, the latter urdered his removal to the Hospital and accompanied him thither in the ambulance. The injured man was buffering from a fractured skull and, from tho outset, his case was considered hopeless. Ho died about 11.30 p.m. An inquest will he opened to-day. The police were communicated with at tho time of the accident and obtained statements from the driver of the, car and a by-stander. Dr. Ewart, himself, saw nothing of tlic ncl'ual occurrence as he was in tho back of the car, which was covered in on account of the rain. ' Arthur Barnard, tho driver, slated that he was coming down Lambton Quay from the direction of Willis Street' and going towards Government Railway Station and, when almost opposite the National Hotel at 5.30 p.m., the ear knocked down deceased, whom, he says, he did' not see in front of him until within about a yard. Ho did not have time to sound the 'horn or bell, but applied the brakes, which, however, did not have the effect of pulling up the car before knocking deceased down. Tho driver further stated that ho could not say if, at' the time of the accident, deceased was crossing tho road or not, as from (he time at which ho first noticed him, until tho ear struck him, only a very short interval elapsed. There was a glass in front of the car to protect the driver from the rain. George Smyth, clerk in the Public, Trust Office, who witnessed the accident, stated (hat deceased was crossing from the Public Trust side to tho National . Hotel side, and that', as the car was np- ' preaching him, he seemed to hesitate, and ' was struck by tko oft'-sidc wheel, which i knocked him against tho road. Mr. ■ Smyth did not hear the horn or bell , sounded by tho driver, but noticed that i tho car was pulled up suddenly. Ho t did not consider that it was travelling . fast and thought that the driver ont deavoured to avoid the accident as, the ' car seemed to swerve before striking de- - ceased.