DEATH OF DOCTOR

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 273, 13 August 1932, Page 12

DEATH OF DOCTOR

Ngahauranga Gorge Skid A DANGEROUS CORNER Formal Verdict Returned COMMENT BY CORONER A skid was the cause of the motorcar accident in the Ngahauranga Gorge on July 13, which resulted in the death of Dr. Robert Lisle Christie. This explanation was given by the driver, Frederick Goldsmith, at an inquest held yesterday into the death of Dr. Christie. The Coroner, Mr. T. B. McNeil, S.AI., in returning a formal verdict, drew the attention ot the Makara County Council to the advisability of erecting a fence in that particular part of the gorge. The accident occurred at about 8 o’clock on the evening of July 13, a short distance on the Wellington side of Johnsonville, near the junction of the Woodlands Road and the Ngahauranga Gorge road. The car was driven by Its owner, Mr. Goldsmith, an attendant at the Alental Hospital, and contained other passengers besides Dr. Christie. They were on their way from Wellington to Porirua. having attended the race meeting that day at Trentham. The car left the road near the summit of the gorge and crashed 15 or 20 feet down a bank, coming to rest upside down In a creek. Dr. Christie was halt pinned under the car, and was dead when extricated. The other passengers escaped serious injury. At the inquest yesterday Senior-Ser-geant Martin acted for the police. Evidence of identification was given by the deceased’s brother, Roy Cameron Christie, a barrister and solicitor, of Wellington. Driver’s Story. Frederick Goldsmith, attendant at the Porirua Hospital, said that at about 7.30 p.m., on July 13, he left Wellington for Porirua, driving a five-seater car. He had with him as passengers Dr. Christie and two other men. The night was very wet and visibility was bad. Witness said he was perfectly sober. When they reached Ngahauranga Gorge it was raining heavily. He was travelling at about 15 miles an hour, when he felt the rear of the car skidding. He did not apply the brakes for fear of skidding further. In a matter of seconds the car was over the bank and down into the creek. Witness said that after wriggling out from underneath the car he called out to Dr. Christie. The next thing he remembered was Constable Tocker assisting to get Dr. Christie from under the car. He had been driving a motor-car for about three years. He attributed the accident to the car skidding. Questioned concerning drinks that he may have had, witness said that during the day he had had two glasses of beer and two of stout. He was not affected by the drinks. On the way from the races they stopped at an hotel in Petone. He denied having had any drink there. Questioned further by Senior-Ser-geant Alartin, Air. Goldsmith said that Dr. Christie came along in another car and got into his car, saying he would drive. Senior-Sergeant Martin: Did you say anything to him about his wanting to drive the ear?—“Oh, no. He just said he would drive.” On the way in you were stopped by a traffic inspector, who drew attention to the erratic manner in which the car was being driven?—“Yes. The traffic inspector drove the car into town. After you were a little while at the police station you were allowed to proceed home.—“ Yes.” Sobriety Not Questioned. Witness said that Dr. Christie did not touch the wheel on the way home. Alfred Victor Baker, who was a passenger in Mr. Goldsmith’s car, said he knew Goldsmith well and did not notice anything different in his condition from ordinary times. He could not assign - any reason for the accident The car was on the road one minute and in the creek next second. Robert John Avery, traffic inspector employed by the City Council, said that he was on duty on the Hutt Road on July 13 last. His attention was attracted by the manner in which Mr. Goldsmith’s car was being driven, and as a consequence he took charge of the vehicle. The car was being driven by Dr. Christie at the time. It was not considered necessary to detain him, although he was not in a fit state to ba driving a car. Witness said he was present when the party left the police station. Goldsmith was then in charge of the car and there was nothing wrong with his condition; it was not questioned. Witness said that when he was driving the car he noticed a little play in the steering. Robert Oscar Symonds, butcher, of Johnsonville, who was following Mr. Goldsmith’s car up the Ngahauranga Gorge, said that he saw a tail-light disappearing round the first bend. He was about 30 or 40 yards behind when he saw the car go over the bank. Witness said he considered the locality where the accident occurred an unsafe part of the road as there was no fence. The car, in his opinion, was being driven at a safe speed. Need For a Fence. Constable Tocker, of Johnsonville, said that the spot where the accident occurred was the only part of the Gorge not fenced. There had been & fence there at one time, but it had been removed. The accident would haTB been avoided had there been a fence there. That part of the Gorge was not lighted. Geoffrey Norman Butcher, motor mechanic, who examined Air. Goldsmith’s car, said that the steering-rod had a slight tendency to lock, but he was not prepared to say there had been anything wrong with the steering before the accident. Senior-Sergeant Dempsey said he saw Dr. Christie, Mr. Goldsmith, Traffic Inspector Avery and three others at the police Station at 7.20 p.m. on July 13. He had a conversation with Dr. Christie, and later asked Mr. Goldsmith if he would drive the car home. He was quite satisfied Air. Goldsmith was capable of driving. In returning a formal verdict, the coroner said that from the evidence there was nothing to show definitely why the car should have left the road and gone over the bank. Two experienced officers had testified that Air. Goldsmith was in a fit condition to drive the car. There was evidence that there was something about the steering which was not quite regular. The coroner said he wished to draw the attention of the Alakara County Council to the fact that it was advisable the fence should be replaced as soon as possible. The .mere fact of seeing posts was a guide to motorists using the road.