WOMAN'S DEATH

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 70, 20 September 1943, Page 3

WOMAN'S DEATH

UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES

On the morning of July 15 Mrs. Mabel Shadlock, 53, married, Lower Hutt, was sitting in the rear seat of;a small car being' driven by her, husband north'along the Western Hutt Road when the car collided with a; stationary truck belonging to the United States ,Marine Corps. ..Both husband and wife were injured and taken to hospital. Mrs. Shadlock died in hospital on July 30, and at the inquest the Coronerfound that death was. due to'injuries received in the motor accident' .'■'.■' :: '•: ' ■ ■..• \ ■■■.'

' Evidence was given; by ' Mr. Shad- .j lock, and supported; by a police con- i stable and by a man who works in : the vicinity of . the accident, that the sun was shining strongly on the morn-;; ing of the accident and that it always caused a glare off that stretch of road..: Mr. Shadlock said his vision was obscured, by the glare and that he did, •■:■ not see the parked truck in time to " avoid it because it was in'the shadow . and painted a camoufiage colour. The.: other, two witnesses corroborated this.

■ The Coroner commented that although Mr.' Shadlock ; had obtained a : driver's licence only fourteen days before theacpident, he was driving in a perfectly normal and proper manner :; at a speed of 20 miles an hour. In the ; circumstances he; did not think that, Mr. Shadlock- was at all blameworthy in the matter. The injuries- which. Mrs. Shadlock had received in, the ac- ,; cident were not severe, but they caused ? a clot which .was carried to the pul-. monary artery and brought about her , death. ■