GREY STREET FATALITY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 62, 10 September 1924, Page 4

GREY STREET FATALITY

"ONCE IN A THOUSAND TIMES"

CONCLUSION OF INQUEST.

Further particulars of an accident in Grey street, last Friday morning, when Albert Edward Hollway, ' a married man, 46 years of age, was knocked down by a bicycle and received injuries*-from which he died, were investigated by the Coroner (Mr. .W. G. Kiddell, S.M.) today.

A description of the accident was given; by Ronald' Roper, the rider of the bicycle, a message boy, 14 years of age employed by the Sports Depot; Willis street. After calling at the G.P.O. witness said he mounted the machine and proceeded down Grey street, travelling slowly -on about the middle of the road.. He had a bell on' his bicycle, but it was broken. He also had a good brake. After crossing Fea: therston street he saw a motor-car approaching him on his right side. There were a good few people crossing the street. "I got a little.way down.Grey street," continued witness, "and there was a man who was looking the other way a, few yards in front, to the left. He .was looking at the motor-car. When I got nearer him he moved forward and got in front of the bicycle. He never looked my way at all."" The Coroner; "Did you call out?"—"I think I did. I was whistling- all."■-'tlib way down the road very loudly." Witness added that deceased was about four yards away when ho firat saw him. The Coroner:-"He didn't see you at all?"—"No! The front, wheel' of the bicycle struck his rightieg." The Ooronot: "Did you strike him a, hard blow?"—"No!"

Senior Sergeant Lander; "The impact didn't carry you past where deceased fell?"--"No!" - ...

To Mr. Cornish: Deceased was walking fairly quickly. He (witness) was going a bit faster than a walking pace. In returning a verdict the Coroner commented on the unusual character of the fatality, remarking that it was an accident which was likely xto happen* once in a thousand times. Considering the rate the boy was travelling; and the rate the man was walking," nt> one would have expected an accident to happen. The boy must have struck deceased, on the leg in a particular way which'throw him off his balance. In 'agreat majority of C ase 3 tho bicycle would simply hare struck the man and he never would have been knocked down. The verdict was that deceased' died from a fractured skull, received through being knocked down in Grey street by a bicycle: ridden by ' Ronald "Roper "