STRUCK BY CAR

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 106, 29 January 1938, Page 8

STRUCK BY CAR

Motor-Cyclist’s Death After an inquest yesterday into the dcut'h of Edward Terence Morris, tramway motorman, aged 46, on January 11, the coroner, Mr. E. Gilbertson, found that lie died from multiple injuries received through colliding with a motorcar driven by George Low, when riding a motor-cycle at Thorndon. Su'b-Inspector J. A. Dempsey conducted the inquest. Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell appeared for the driver of the car, and Mr. 0. C. Mazengarb for the relatives of Morris. Mrs. E. T. Morris, wife of the deceased, said her husband had ridden a motor-cycle for some years, and was a proficient and careful driver. Randall Martin Holmes, bus driver, said that when about 40 yards distant from the intersection of Tluakori Road and Thorndon Quay, he saw the deceased’s Motor-cycle travelling about 10 m.p.h. across Thorndon Quay. He also saw the ‘headlights of the car as it came round a stationary tramcar. Then one of the lights blacked out as if the .cycle had passed in front of it. Witness heard a crash, and the sound of the cycle being dragged. He concentrated on pulling his bus up, and when he went, back found the deceased in an unconscious condition under the car, which had crashed through an iron fence on tbe southern side of the intersection. Frederick Henry Dean, shed foreman, employed by the Tramways Department, said that the collision occurred about 60 paces ahqad of him. He saw the ear go past, him at from 35 to 40 miles an hour. A motor-cycle was turning out of the sheds, ridden by a tramwayman going off duty. The cycle turned slowly across the road. He could not say whether it was lighted, but tbe ear had its lights burning. Speaking through an interpreter, George Low, a fruit-shop assistant, said that he was driving tbe ear on his way to Petone. Opposite the tram sheds a motor-cycle was ridden across the road from'behind a stationary tramear. As soon as he saw it, he put bls brakes on. He was then only six or seven feet away, and as he struck he pulled to the 1/ft. The car came to rest within 30 feet. His brakes did not stop his car very suddenly. Witness was a qualified trade driver. When he first saw t'he cycle it was only 8 to 10 feet away, and it would lie about two feet behind the back of the tram. Umberto Primo Calclnai, traffic inspector, gave evidence as to the condition of the two vehicles after the accident. The car was in good order, and bad a certificate of fitness. The brake-linings were worn, but the brakes acted well when tested. The speedometer lagged a little behind the actual speed. Constable Davis, who attended the scene of the accident, said that the driver stated that he was not driving at more than 20 m.p.h.