TAITA GORGE FATALITY

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 72, 18 December 1928, Page 12

TAITA GORGE FATALITY

VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH TAXI-DRIVER SEVERELY CENSURED “lie is obviously unfit to hold a drivers' license," stated the Coroner (Mr. <l. 11. Salmon, >S.M.) of Ernest Walter Sargent, taxi-driver, when .summing up at the conclusion of the inquest yesterday on Joseph O'Neill, of Miramar, who died in Wellington Hospital as a result of injuries received when a taxi driven by Sargent went over a bank-in the Taita Gorge early in the morning of December 3.

Air. I’. J. O'Regan appeared for Airs. O'Neil); Air. W. Perry for E. IV. Sargent (driver of the taxi) : Air. P. Shorland for the Black and White Cab Co. (owners of the vehicle) ; and Air. U. A. Wiren for Joseph Enoch Horsfall, the remaining passenger. Constable Anderson, confining bis evidence, stated that he had seen the tracks after the accident, and they disclosed no evidence of a skid. The car had followed the bank for some distance and then gone over the edge. Percy John Heat, taxi-driver, said he was taking a passenger to Trentham and passed the spot where the accident occurred at about 2.35 a.m. The night was rather misty. On his return from Trentham he reached the scene of the accident at about 3.30 a.m., when Sargent waved his arms and requested him to stop. "Witness went .with Sargent to see if he could be of any assistance to the injured man. Sargent was perfectly sober at the time. Witness was quite positive his remark to Horsfall was, “Has Ernie been drinking?” and not “Ernie’s been drinking.” Witness said he asked Horsfall how the accident happened, Horsfall's reply being that he saw a car approaching and that was all he knew about it.”

Chief Detective Ward: You say that going out you passed the scene at about 2.35. Sargent says tht the accident occurred at 2.30. Did you put him off the road? Witness did not think that such was the case.

Airs. Frances Afahoney, of 82 Kent Terrace, a sister of deceased, gave evidence that O'Neill was a man of sober habits.

Air. P. J. O’Regan, addressing the Court, pointed out that O’Neill was _ a highly respectable man of sober habits. On the previous Saturday, however, he had won £lOO in a double, and had no doubt been bent on treating his friends. The idea was the same as that of the miners of the old days, who, when they struck it rich, usually stood their friends drinks. Commenting on the accident, counsel said that had the mishap occurred as Sargent had stated, there would have been marks on the road. The constable’s evidence had shown that there were no such marks.

The Coroner gave a verdict that O’Neill died in Wellington Hospital at 7.20 a.m. on the morning of December 3. through a fracture of the skull received when the taxi-cab in which he was riding, and which was driven by E. IV. Sargent, accidentally went over the bank in the Taita Gorge. The evidence showed deceased and his companion to have taken a considerable quantity of liquor, but in regard to the driver there was no evidence that he had been intoxicated, although he had had some liquor. “A taxi-driver,” continued Air. Salmon, “is responsible for the safety of his passengers whatever their condition.” The conduct of the driver in taking men in such a condition into his car, taking them for a drive, in stopping at one hotel for liquor, and when it was refused, , proceeding to another hotel, and obtaining mid partaking of liquor, was deserving of the severest censure. Sargent was obviously unfit to hold a taxi-driver’s license.