MOTOR COLLISION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 21 August 1924, Page 6

MOTOR COLLISION.

THE WAIT AFA FATALITY. ' DEATH OF MISS PURDIE. The adjourned inquest into the circumstances of the death of Miss Margery A. Purdio, who died as the result of injuries received in a motor collision on the Tikorang-i Road on August 10, was concluded before the district coroner, Mr A. M. Mowlem, S.M., at New Plymouth yesterday in online, when a verdict- was returned that Miss Purdio met her death as the result of injuries received in a collision at. 10.30 at night between a motor cycle and side-car driven by hc-r brother, which the coroner held was properly ridden, and another motor cycle ridden by Alfred Thomas Allen, who, the coroner determined, was wandering about the road finding a track among the potholes, and was so busily engaged in doing so that he failed to notice the approach of the other cycle, which the evidence showed was properly lighted, that lie had no light on his machine at the time of the impact, and was on his wrong side of the road, and failed to keep a proper look-out.

“It is an awful thing that at present we are suffering from an epidemic of accidents wherein life is being seriously involved,” commented the coroner, in reviewing the evidence, “and it appears to be necessary that authorities in charge of roads, inspectors, police, magistrates, Supreme Court judges and everybody should take care to see that the proper rules of the road are observed in all cases and sacred human life is respected.” Touching upon the facts, the coroner said that it was evident that Allen was searching among the potholes for a decent track. -It was apparent that the one main reason for the accident- was because Allen’s machine was driven without a* light. What else was the position? Were men mad to run into danger? If there had been a light on Allen’s machine Pur die would have seen it; yet as a fact there was a light on Purdio’s cycle which Allen did not see. "Although Allen did not see the light- he was on his wrong side of the road, and there was nothing else to say than that he failed to keep a proper look-out. He could not disregard the fact that Allen could not swear that his light did not go out, and it was assumed that it might have done so and he knew the road so well and thought there was no danger. He could not see (hat Purdio could reasonably have done anything to avert the accident, though it was difficult to say why he did not see Allen’s cycle, but it was more difficult to say why Allen did not see Purdie, who had a light. He was not going to say whether there was negligence which would Avarrant. other penalties, nor Avas he entitled to say whether Allen Avas guilty of a serious error of judgment. The coroner then found the verdict as mentioned above.—Herald.