MRS CAUGHLEY’S DEATH

Evening Star, Issue 19709, 9 November 1927, Page 8

MRS CAUGHLEY’S DEATH

THE CORONER'S VERDICT [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, November 9. At the inquest in regard to the death of Mrs Caughlcy in the motor accident at Kelburn on Sunday Mr Caughley gave evidence that on going throu' j the cutting at tcu .miles an hour he noticed a- boy coming tit him on a bicycle svds away and on the wrong side of tiie road. A collision was inevitable, and he swung Ins car to the riaht. at the same time applying the foot brake. The cyclist, nowever, swerved in the same direction, and struck him at about the middle of the road. Up to that time Mr Caughlcy said, he did not realise that they wore in any danger. He saw that they were heading for a fence, and applied full pressure of the brakes, but the car went on through the fence and over the bank. Both brakes were a fortnight before the accident. He believed that, though the collision was unavoidable, he would not have left tho road if he had applied the full pressure of the brakes immediately he saw the boy. The Coroner said that il both parties had kept to the left the accident might not have happened. However, there was no absolute law regarding positions on the road, and it appeared to him that if there was an error of judgment it was on the pari, of Mr Caughlcy in concluding that the rvclist could get past him; but be would not say it was a wrong conclusion that Mr CanglileV came to. He should have applied both brakes fully when bo saw the cyclist, and the car would probably have stopped before reaching tho fence. A verdict was returned of “Death from injuries through being accidentally crushed.” ,f T'.e Coroner expressed sympathy with Mr Caugbley and his family.