MOTOR-CYCLIST'S DEATH

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 31, 31 October 1929, Page 6

MOTOR-CYCLIST'S DEATH

dangerous road surface. Dominion Special Service. Foxton, October 30. ■The inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Harold Wadsworth, porter, employed at Ihorndon Railway Station, and resident at 19 Glenbervie Terrace, Wellington, who met his death on the Sandon Road on Monday, as a result of his motor-cycle skidding in loose metal and throwing him against a following car. was held at Foxton yesterday, before the Coroner (Mr. A. Fraser). Evidence of identification was tendered by 8. P. Davis, telegraphist, and fellowboarder with deceased. Davis stated that Wadsworth had been an expert motorC 'j l C. A. Lawson, boilermaker, of Wellington, who was accompanying deceased on the latter’s motor-cycle at the time ot the accident, said that with deceased he had left Wellington on Saturday and gone to Wanganui. On Monday morning they were returning to Wellington, v’hcn, after passing a car on the Sandon Road, Wadsworth endeavoured to swerve ins machine, which was only travelling at about eight miles per hour, across the deep, loose metal to avoid an approaching cur. The machine skidded and witness and deceased were thrown off. Witness lauded on his feet, but Wadswoit wis thrown to the left and forward, a d wiien witness looked around he saw mm lying with his face up against .the back wheel of the car. There was about 40 yards between the cycle and the following car before Wadsworth attempted to cross over the road. There was no negligence on anyone’s part,. and all vehicles were travelling very slowly. . The road was in a dangerous state owing to the depth of the loose metal. W. E. Warren, the driver of the cai which struck Wadsworth, stated that a short while before the accident the cyclists passed him. He was doing about 15 miles per hour, on account or the loose metal, and the machine, was not travelling fast. It then slowed up and attempted to pass over to its correct side to avoid' an approaching ear. lhe machine skidded and threw the men off. Wadsworth had taken no undue, risk in crossing over the road. A H. Hobbs, the driver of the approaching car, said Warren’s car was travelling very slowly at the time ot the accident. The accident had been caused bv the loose metal on the road. Blaxland. of Rongotea stated that the metal on the road in the locality was between four and six inches deep and had been furrowed into three tracks bv traffic. . It was very dangerous to vehicular traffic of any '‘‘"d- , The Coroner returned a leidict that deceased had met his death by being accidentally run into by a car driven by W E. Warren through the motor-cycle he was riding skidding in the loose; metal and throwing him m front of the eat.