RUN DOWN BY CAR

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 180, 28 April 1931, Page 11

RUN DOWN BY CAR

Man Dies From Injuries PURELY ACCIDENTAL A verdict of accidental death was returned yesterday by the coroner, Mr. I. Salek, at the inquest concerning the death of David Wilson, a labourer, aged 63, who died in the Wellington Hospital on April 2, an hour after being run down by a motor-car driven by Eric Arnold Woodfield, in. Ridd if ord Street. Woodfield, in evidence, said that he was driving a taxicab along Riddiford Street, and just before reaching the hospital he saw two people run in front of the car. Though he applied the brakes, the car skidded on the wet bitumen, and a man and a woman were knocked down. Witness was on the right side of the road, and was travelling at from 17 to 20 miles an hour when the accident occurred. _A strong northerly wind was blowing, rain was falling, and visibility was bad. Mrs. Hanna Green said she was crossing the road with Wilson when they were both knocked down. They had,-previously made a few attempts to cross the street, but the wind had been too strong. Opposite the hospital they again attempted to cross the road, and.had just stepped off the footpath when they were, struck by the , car. . ’ ’ 11 William Dance said he was just behind Wilson and Mrs. Green, and they appeared as if they had been blown off the footpath by the high wind. He did not consider the taxidriver was to. blame tor the accident. , . .. ' The coroner held that the circumstances of the case were purely-accidental, and returned a formal finding that the deceased had died from injuries received when he was knocked down by a motor-car driven by Eric Arnold Woodfield.