CAR’S FATAL FALL

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 186, 4 May 1933, Page 11

CAR’S FATAL FALL

The Island Bay Tragedy INQUEST ON VICTIMS End to Dancing Evening MAN WHO TOOK WHEEL Tlio circumstances of the tragic motor-car accident at Island Bay a month ago were inquired into at an inquest on tlio four victims yestcrday. After a number of witnesses had been examined the Coroner, Mr. IS. Gilbertson, J.P., adjourned tnc inquest until to-day.

Tiie accident occurred at midnight on April 1, when the car, containing six occupants, plunged over a 40ft. cliff from Milne Terrace on to Dcrwei.il Street. The victims were Mr. James Henry Wood, Mrs. Margaret Gilmour Wood, Mr. Ernest Joseph Dicksou, and Miss Olga Beryl Bardebes. Miss Marjorie Morris was injured, and Mr. Frederick Hooker uninjured. Mr. AV. E. Leicester appeared at the inquest for the relatives of Miss Bardebes aud Mr. Dickson; Mr. P. EBaldwin for Frederick Hooker, who was stated to have driven the car at the time of the accident; Mr. It. L. A. Cresswell for Gerald Fitzgerald, who drove the car earlier in the eveniug; and Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald for the owners of the car. Meyers Motors. Chief-De-tective Carroll conducted the inquest. Mrs. Eunice Dickson, a widow, said that her son Ernest bad left her home at 8 o’clock on the night of the accident, which was the last time she saw him alive. She understood that be was going out dancing witli Miss Bardebes. Her sou was not in the habit of drinking. Before her son and the party with him left her hotel, the Waverley, they had tea there; they were all perfectly sober when they left, and she could notice no sign of drink ou any of them. ~ . Kathleen E. M. Bardebes, mother ot Olga Bardebes, said that Mr. Dickson called for her daughter in the evening to take her to a dance somewhere. To her knowledge her daughter did not drink. When Doctor Arrived. Tbo doctor who attended to the victims of the accident. Dr. R. B. Martin, said that he arrived ou the scene shortly after the accident occurred. Three persons were lying dead on tiie road near to the wrecked motor-car, and another, Mr. Dicksou, was obviously dying. Miss Morris had a number of injuries. Mr. Hooker, who told him that: he was the driver of the ear, was suffering from shock, but was not seriously injured. He could detect uo sign of alcohol on him, and he seemed remarkably composed in the circumstances. If Mr. Hooker was in the car when it went: over the cliff it seemed remarkable that his injuries were not greater, said Dr. Martin in reply to questions. He had had two previous cases where the driver of a car had been thrown on to the steering wheel and wrecking it without being seriously injured. Dr. Eugene Lynch, a resident surgical officer at Wellington Hospital, said that Dickson was unconscious when he was admitted to the hospital, and he died about an hour and a half later. Questioned by Mr. Leicester, witness said that from a medical point of view it seemed unusual that the driver, Mr. Hooker, did not suffer greater injury considering his fall of 40 feet in tiie car, but it was not incredible.

Horace T. T. Carter, a Harbour Board employee, said he was in his house .15 to 20 yards away when lie heard the crash. lie ran out and found the car lying upside-down near Hie midle of Hie road. AVith assistance lie turned it over, aud found that the six occupants had been pinned underneath. Alost of the passengers were injured ou tlio tops of their heads. AVitness was astonished that one of tiie men was able to get out of the car, apparently without assistance. He got out from the middle or the back of tiie car. Found Car Gone. A member of tlio party, Air. Gerald Fitzgerald, said that they attended a cabaret at Island Bay. He had driven the car to the cabaret. It was a 1925 model with a left-hand drive. They stayed at the cabaret until 11.30, when they agreed to return home. AAitncss started tiie ear, and. in company with Mr. F. L. Hoar, another member of tiie party, parked it a short distance away, leaving it in low gear and witli the brakes applied. They returned Io get. tiie others, and passed four members of the party going out. to the car. They could not. find Mr. and Airs. AVood, and on their return five minutes later found tiie car gone, latter they heard that there had been an accident, and went to investigate. AAHien they arrived on the scene they found Hooker, who told witness that Hie others had “jeered” him (o drive the car. witness said. He had imide a suggestion earlier about driving it. but witness bad refused to lend tiie car to him. Witness did not regard Hooker as a good driver. Tiie brakes were iu

excellent condition when lie left the car. Tiie wheels were turned toward Hie kerb. The party had not been drinking at the cabaret or in the car. Hooker was quite sober when witness saw him.

Frank Leo Hoare. a hairdresser, gave similar evidence. He said that he had spoken to Air. Fitzgerald at lunch that day (yesterday), but they had not mentioned the case. The statement that, he made to the police on April G might not have been wholly true: some parts of it. were all right, but others might, have been a mistake. AVhen Hie ear was parked it was facing downhill.

Norman Meyers, a motor engineer, said that, he had driven ihe car himself on hills, aud tiie brakes had been iu gopd order. On April I Air. Dickson had asked him for Hie car to go to the cabaret, but witness had told him to ask his partner, Air. Fitzgerald. The car’s number plates belonged to another car in his garage; they were put on some time ago. The car was not; registered for .1933. AVitness had seen tiie car after Hie accident. Tiie engine and lights were switched on, and the choke had been pulled out as if an attempt had been made to start if. Tiie coroner adjourned the inquest until 11.30 a.m. to-day.