FATAL ACCIDENT

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 86, 8 October 1930, Page 18

FATAL ACCIDENT

COLLISION IN PETONE

INQUEST ADJOURNED

An accident in Jackson street. Pctone, on 14th July, in whieli a motfircyclist and a cyclist wove eonccrncd, Avns the subject of :i covoniaV inquiry before Mr. E. Pago, S.M., in Ilic tnite's Court yesterday afternoon, the i-yclist, Francis Edmund Blake, having died from his injuries on the evening of the accident.

Sub-Inspector Lopdell .conducted the inquest. ' Mr. W. E. Leicester appeared for the relatives.of ithc deceased and Mr. E. E. Pope for Lawson John August, the motor cyclist. 'Dr. Bakewell, of. .Pctonc, said that death was due to cerebral haemmorhage resulting from a.'fracture to the skull.Albert Edward. Hope, motor driver, of Potone, said that at 5.45 pan. on 14th July 'he -was cycling along Jackson street from Petono toward Mocra in company with Blake, who was also cycling. f Witness was on the left side of Blake and both were cycling on tlie left edge of the bitumen. Both had rear reflectors, but neither had a light' attached .to ' their machines, although witness had an electric torch. Witness heard the motor-cycle at the same time as he heard the crash. It was dark at the time. Witness dismounted and returned to find Blake's body on the centre of the. bitumen. Witness moved the body to one side and waited- until assistance came. Blake did not move or speak. Witness could not say whether'the motor-cyclist had. a light—he did not see any. Blake would be about four feet from the edge of the bitumen when run into. Blake was dead wtien. removed from the scene of.' the accident. Mr. Leicester'" objected to cross-ex-amination on matters which he said | might be in issue in a, civil claim. The Magistrate: "Are further proceedings contemplated"" Mr..Leicester: "Yes; writs have been taken out in respect of civil proceedings. " Mr. Pope said August had sustained head and body injuries as a, result of the accident and had been in hospital unconscious for three weeks. He was apparently not' normal at the present time,'- and. was- incapable, of. giving evidence. His mmdj was>a blank concerning the affair.- • • • . . ■ • • Sub-Inspector Lopdoli: "The police havq not beeu>ab]o to get a statement of any kind from August up to the presen'tt'imcraird'no"explanation of the accident." . ■. ■ ■ ' Thomas Richard "Evans, bus driver, of Petone, said: he arrived on the scene soon after the accident. Blake was being supported.';,by the last witness and August was lying on the road beside his machine: AVitncss went away to obtain "assistance,' and' the, ambulance and'police were communicated with. Constable HiggTns, of Pctonc, said that he had examined the scene of the accident 'on-the'-.same day. The accident had occurred at a very dark part of-the road, between two lights which were 700 feet apart. ■ Mi1. Leicester: "Are yon satisfied from your inquiries that the motorcyclist in the accident was August?" — "Yes; I spoke to him on Sunday moming and he.asked me at what time the inquest was to be held." The Magistrate: "What;is the position with regard to August?" Sub-Inspector ■ Lopdell: "We notified him that the inquest was on and that we desired, his' attendance. I did not know until now. that he would not bo here." ■ Mr. Pope: "I can call him if you desire it, but after I got the doctor's certificate I thought lie would not-bo fit .to give evidence. If necessary I will arrange for him to do so." Tlie Magistrate: "The ■ certificate does not say he is unable to give evideucc,,but if he is able to do so, I think he ought to be called to give it. He rode the motor-cycle which caused the death of this man, and if ho is fit he should be.called." ; Constable Higgins said that August had told.witness he could remember nothing about* the accident. The Magistrate: "What about incidents prior to the accident?" Constable Higgins: "I asked him did ho remember riding along the street prior to the'accident and ho said 'No, my mind is a blank.'" Mi-. Leicester considered it would be more ..proper, for the Court to bear August. The inquest;was-accordingly adjourned until to-day to enable August. te be called. •■'. /'....