DRIVER AS WITNESS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 104, 5 May 1933, Page 8

DRIVER AS WITNESS

MOTOR FATALITY

ISLAND BAY TRAGEDY FINDING DEFERRED The Coronet's inquiry into tho circumstances connected with the motorcar accident at Island Bay on April 1 was continued yesterday afternoon. The accident resulted iv the- death of four persons, namely Mr. James Henry \Vootl, Mrs. Margaret Gilmoui Wood, Mr. Ernest Joseph Dickson, and Miss Olga Beryl Bardebes. The taking of tho evidence of the driver of tho car occupied tho greater part of the afternoon. The Coroner's finding was reserved. Frederick Patrick Hooker, shopassistant, said ho drovo with a party to tho Crow's Nest Cabaret, Island Lay, on April 1. Some time bcroro midnight witness got the permission of Mr. Gerald Fitzgerald to takt his car home with several friends who had attended tho cabaret. Fitzgerald went out to start tho car, but found tho battery flat, and a number of men assisted to push the car from in front of the cabaret. By pushing the car backwards and forwards the m<>tor wns started. The car was then driven up tho hill. Subsequently, witness spoke to Fitzgerald and Hoaro at the place where tho car was parked at tho corner of Knoll Street. Mr. Fitzgerald said witness was to drive the ear, and Uoarc and Fitzgerald went back to tho cabaret. The wholo party then got into the car. Ho did not remember Home coming back. "CAR STARTED ITSELF." Tho cay started itself, s>aid witness, otherwise the only way ho could account, for it starting wag that he accidentally placed his foot on tho clutch. Ho could not say whether he interfered with tho steering handle before the car started. Ho could not remember the car going down the road. Tho first thing ho romembered seeing was a big hill jutting across tho road. He swung to the right for the sole purpose of going into the cliff. He did not intend to continue on to the right, but simply to run the car to the cliff. ll© applied tho footbrake. Ho made a dart to get the hand brake, but could not say whether ho reached it or not. Witness &aid ho had no recollection of going over tho bank. The next thing ho recollected was somcono asking people to turn tho car over—tho car having gone over a cliff and ' landed on tho road below. His mind was almost a blank in regard to tho occurrence. When Hoaro asked him why he had taken tho responsibility of driving the car witness replied that he was asked to do so. The car must havo been started accidentally. It had a left-hand drive.:. Witness had never driven a, similar car. 'Ho had never held a motor-car driver's licence. Iv driviugj about with friends,' they had taught him how'to drive. Ho had never had solo charge of a motor-car. "I consider myself competent," said witness, "to drive such a car on such a road." After tho accident witness .-was taken to the ■ hospital, but ho was not kept thero for treatmc-iit. Ho did not. remember Mr. or Mrs. Wood being in the car when 'it started, though ho remembered Miss Morris being there. Ho had driven several types' of car, but it. was a considerable time siuco ho had driven. His expericneo amounted to this: that apart from one tour of a 1600-mile trip in the Worth Island, ho had only occasionally taken tho wheel for friends. • • HIS DRIVING EXPERIENCE. To Mr. Leicester: His driving of the car was quito, accidental. He was in the driving seat when the car accidentally started. Witness did not give an explanation or expression of regret to Mrs. Dickson or the Bardobescs, because ho felt thai ho' had caused enough trouble already. He had been advised not to do so. He had, however, sent his regrets through ■ another, person. Ho left the cabaret 'with tho intention of driving tho car home. He had never been licensed, and had t never driven a car of his own; nor one with lefthand steering- gear. Ho had never driven over tho road where the accident occurred. Mr. Leicester: Did you consider you were qualified or .-justified in driving that car? —Yes, I consider I was qualified. Did you havo any liquor during tho evening?—l had two whiskies and two shandies between 5.30 and 6 o'clock. I was quite capable and was not affected by liquor at the time of the.accident. What is your explanation'of the accident? —I havo no explanation. I do not remember. "MIND LARGELY A BLANK." Continuing, witness said that his mind was largely a blank in regard to many of tho things that occurred at tho timo of the accident. You can't remember actually putting your foot on tho ulutch? —Iso, I cannot. Has it ever occurred to you that this accident may have been due to your own inexperience in driving?-—jS to. To Mr. Baldwin: The liquor I took was taken some six hours before tho accident. I feel I. could pass a driving test for a driver's licence. I wanted to' go homo in a taxi. So far as I remember, the suggestion that I should drive did not come-.from me. You affirm definitely that you never deliberately started that car? —Y.cs. Did you intend to pull the wheels round towards the side of the road? — No, I do not remember touching the steering wheel. Mr. Cresswell: It is the accident that has affected your memory?— Yes. Eeginald Austin said he was. one of thoso who pushed the ear backward and forward to start the engine. Several men and women then got in. He heard one man say to the man at the wheel "Take her steadily; keep her in low gear, and she'll be all right." The car went slowly down the hill. Richard Collins, a traffic officer of the Wellington City Council, said he had seen" tho brake linings after tho' accident, and ho thought they were in' bad condition. Constable Baker,' of Island Bay, said he had questioned Hooker after the ae■cident, and could not notico any sign of liquor on him. I The Coroner reserved his finding, which he said he would give next week.