MOTOR LORRY SMASH.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVI, Issue 8, 21 December 1925, Page 5

MOTOR LORRY SMASH.

A Al AN KILLED. DRIVER CHARGED WITH .MANSLAUGHTER. Hamilton, Dec. 20. The circumstances surrounding the death of Ernest Thomas White, who was crushed to death through the wheel of a heavy motor lorry passing over him on the main Te AwamutuHamilton road on Saturday evening, a man named Cook having both legs broken at the same time, were inquired into by the coroner, Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., when a charge against the driver, Charles Leonard Davis, that being in a state of intoxication while in charge of a motor vehicle he did by an act in relation thereto cause the death of White, was taken in conjunction by Justices.

A heavy lorry, owned by Innes and Co., brewers, of Hamilton, was returning from the To Awamutu racecourse laden with empty beer barrels. When nearing Ohaupo the lorry mot with a mishap. Whether it struck a rut or skidded on the side of the road is not clear, but- several men, who were riding on the barrels, were thrown to the ground, the near wheel of the weighty vehicle passing over White, who was frightfully mangled and killed instantly. Cook had both legs broken and another passenger only rolled away in time, the wheel passing over his coat and flattening a tin ol tobacco in his pocket.

The evidence at the inquest showed that drinking had been going on among some of the members of the party while on the return to Hamilton. The coroner found that White met his death from shock, caused through his being run over by a lorry, driven by L>avis, and further that death was due to recklessness or negligence on the part of Davis, who was in a state of intoxication at the time. Davis was committed for trial on the charge of causing White’s death.