MOTOR CYCLIST’S DEATH

Evening Star, Issue 22900, 7 March 1938, Page 10

MOTOR CYCLIST’S DEATH

PDRTOBELLO ROAD ACCIDENT EVIDENCE OF SPEEDING AT INQUEST Commenting • that the road was clear and the weather tine, the coroner (Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.) said to-day at the concluded inquest on John Michale Davis Bain (18), who died following an accident on February 5 on the Lower Portobello road, that the only explanation of the mishap was that it was due to speeding on a motor cycle. His verdict was that death was due to asphyxia caused by injuries received when his motor cycle crashed at Macandrew Bay ou February 5. Sergeant W. Cooper represented the police. Clifford Arnold Hitchcox, a pillion rider on the machine driven by the deceased, said that Bain, his cousin, asked ’him to his house for tea ou the day of the accident.. From the stage at which they left for there to the time lie regained consciousness in the Hospital next day, he remembered nothing. Alan Thomas Smith, a farm , employee, of Highcliff, who was’ standing near where the motor cycle crashed, said the machine was lying on the middle of the road, and at the side were the two riders. There was no traffic about at the time, the weather was fine, and the light good. When the motor cycle passed him it was travelling at a" high rate of sjieed, and the pillion rider impressed him as calling out to deceased to reduce speed. . ; Albert Victor Grindley, residing at Macandrew Bay, said that the motor cycle passed him and seemed to bfe travelling fast. After an inspection of the scene he formed the opinion that the accident was due to a pedal on the machine coming in contact with Hie toad while they were negotiating the bend. Arthur '.Tames William Jackson, a motor •mechanic; said that following an inspection of the machine, he formed the opinion that, prior to the apeident, it was .fib to be used on any roadway. The coroner then returned liifi yerdidj.