MOTORIST’S DEATH

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 184, 3 May 1934, Page 2

MOTORIST’S DEATH

Charge of Negligent Driving LORRY-DRIVER FOR TRIAL A sequel to a motor accident at Glenside, near Johnsonville, on January 13, was heard in the Magistrate’s Court, Wellington, yesterday, when Cyril John Steer was charged with negligently driving a mot-or-lorrv, thereby causing the death of George Kermode. Messrs. D. H. Edgar and P. D. Hoskins, J.P.’s, were on the Bench, and Chief-Detective Carroll prosecuted. Mr. W. E. Leicester appeared for accused. , . Accused was further charged that, being the driver of a motor-lorry responsible for an accident involving Kermode, since deceased, lie failed to stop and render assistance and report, to the nearest police station. William S. M. Organ, surveyor, said there was a width of 24ft. 3in. of usable road at the scene of the accident.

Mrs. E. Legge, a widow, Of Wellington, gave evidence that she was a passenger in deceased’s car. It was travelling toward Wellington, and at the scene of the accident there was a heavy bump and the car swerved to the side. “As the car swerved I saw the baek of a lorry with a dog on it,” said witness. “The lorry was going in the same direction as we were. It passed us, and the next thing was that I found myself in a creek up to my neek in water. Mr. Kermode was lying face down in the water, and I lifted his head out of the water until a Mr. Greer pulled him out” The lorry, said witness, was a red one, and it was travelling very fast. In answer to Mr. Leicester, witness said deceased wab a careful driver and of very sober habits. He was not a nervous driver. That deceased had inhaled water while lying unconscious in the creek, was stated by Dr. R. F. Aitken, of Johnsonville, who attended Kermode shortly after the accident. Kermode’s subsequent death was dm! to pneumonia, which could possibly follow exposure and injuries, received by deceased. Witness agreed that pneumonia could arise from natural causes despite the best of attention to the patient. Dr. R. Orgias, house surgeon at Wellington Hospital, gave evidence that Kermode’s injuries consisted of a fractured pelvis, a dislocated right hip, a fractured left arm, a. dislocated left collarbone, and facial injuries. Pneumonia was a possible complication following such injuries. “Deceased’s progress for about a wfeek aftei; his admission to hospital was satisfactory,” said Dr. N. F. C. Hill, acting-house surgeon at Wellington Hospital, “After that he became less well, and ten days following his admission signs Of pneumonia appeared, and Kermode died on January 31.” Witness stilted that he was not prepared to say that deceased’s injuries were the cause of the pneumonia, but they predisposed him to it. If pneumonia did arise spontaneously the injuries would certainly render the outlook more serious. In reply to Mr. Leicester, witness said • that he could not deny spontaneous pneumonia in Kermode’s case. In a man of deceased’s age pneumonia was generally .a serious matter, and even the most careful nursing '.might not prevent death. A farmer of Glenside, Samuel J. Greer, said 1 he saw the car falling down the bank, and it toppled into the river as he watched. Two vehicles, close together, were disappearing round a bend in the road. The rear one seemed to be a dark-red lorry with a hood, but witness could not be certain on this point. He examined a skid-mark on the road. The front right-hand hub cap of deceased's car bore marks of having been struck, and there Was a red-coloured scratch mark on the right-hand mudguard. After further evidence had been (heard accused was committed for trial at the next sessions of the Supreme Court in Wellington.