YOUNG MAN'S DEATH

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 286, 29 August 1931, Page 5

YOUNG MAN'S DEATH

Conflicting Evidence FATAL ROAD ACCIDENT There was some difference between the account* told at an Inquest on Thursday of th* circumstance of a road accident near Lower Hutt on August 2 which had fatal result* for Norman Vernon Kjar, pastrycook, aged 18, th* motor-cyclist concerned. The version given by Frank Hili Wheelhouse Simpson, driver of the motor-cat with which Kjar collided, did not coincide in some particulars with the, version r’veh by Constable Bert Warren, who. although not on duty, had seen from a motor-lorry behind Simpson's car some of the events leading up to the accident. Mr. I. Salek, J.P., coroner, returned a formal finding.- • ; <7 Sub-Inspector Lopdell appeared for the Police Department, Mr. Rollings for Kjar'* relatives, and Mr. 0. 0. Mazengarb tor the driver of the car, Simpsou. Dr. Bettina Matraves Collier, house surgeon at the Wellington Hospital, said that Kjar had been admitted to hospital at about 5.30 p.m. on August 2. He was suffering severe head injuries, with a fractured skull, a fracture of both wrists, and an extensive wound on the thigh. He died more than four hours later without regaining consciousness. Frank Hill Wheelhouse Simpson, drivel of the motor-car. said that at the time of the accident he was returning from Upper Hutt to Lower Hutt, and had with him in the car his mother, wife, and a Mrs. Balks. When nearing Nai Nai Lane and travelling from 30 to 35 miles an hour, he saw the motor-cycle coming toward him. It was about thirty yards away, and had to swing out When Simpson saw that it would not get back to its correct side he pulled ovar to his own right-hand side. Kjar could not get round, and struck the left-hand side mudguard. , In Simpson’* opinion the accident was caused by Kjar travelling too quickly and trying to pass another car coming in the same direction, thus being carried across the road too far. Simp&on estimated Kjar’s speed at between 40 and 50 miles an hour, There had been plenty of room for him to pass. ... . Constable Bert Warren, who had happened to be out in a motor-truck returning from Upper Hutt, said that Simpson s cat had passed the truck near Trinity Aventie, and was at that time going at from 45 to 50 mile* per honr. Simpson’s car, after giving the truck a wide berth, began to regain its correct side, and then turned toward its wrong side, and weut over on to the course of the motorcycle, which was approaching on its correct side. The car went to within a short distance of the edge of the bitumen on the off-side of the road. Those in the truck then saw the motor-cyclist come into view on the left side of the car as if he were trying to clear it. . .. . , Constable Warren described the accident itself, and what took place afterward, There had been no vehicle on the road within view approaching the lorry other than the motor-cycle, and he could see no reason why Simpson should turn to his incorrect side of the road. Constable Warren could not give Mr. -Mazengatb an estimate of the ,speed at Which the motor-cycle was travelling. He told Mr, Rollings that if there had been a car approaching as Simpson had said in hi* statement he would have noticed it. He did not see it, however. After further evidence*had been heard the coroner returned a formal finding that Kipr had died o:E injuries received when the collision occurred.