CRUSHED TO DEATH

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21633, 9 February 1945, Page 4

CRUSHED TO DEATH

TRACTOR ACCIDENT t A verdict that the deceased was killed by the tractor which he was driving overturning and crushing him to death was returned by the Coroner. Mr. C. Blackburn, J.P., at the inquest into the death of John Te Whata. a Gisborne Borough Council employee, who died on Wednesday. The inquest was held yesterday afternoon. Evidence of identification was given by Prank David Winter, and Dr. Edmund Ewart Brown gave evidence of his examination of the body following its extrication from beneath the tractor. A labourer, James Yurll. who witnessed the accident, told of seeing the deceased driving the tractor, which was towing a lawn-mowing machihe, down the grade of the river bank on Read’s Quay. When near the bottom the deceased attempted to turn the tractor to drive round a tree and the vehicle tipped over, pinning the driver underneath. Constable J. R. Gedye gave evidence of removing the body from beneath the tractor and of how it was placed. Sergeant C. H. Reardon appeared for the police and Mr. G. J. Jeune appeared on behalf of the relatives of the deceased.