CRUSHED BENEATH CAR

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 205, 13 August 1932, Page 4

CRUSHED BENEATH CAR

DEATH OF MOTORIST VERDICT AT INQUEST Wellington, August 12. A formal verdict was returned by Mr T. B. McNeil at the inquest concerning the death of Robert Lisle Christie, who was crushed beneath a motor car which capsized over the bank in the Ngahanranga Gorge on July 13. The evidence of the driver and owner, Frederick Goldsmith, was that the car skidded suddenly at the corner of the wet road. He had had four drinks throughout the day at the races, he said. On the way back from the races Christie got into Goldsmith’s car and said he would drive. The traffic inspector held them up and drove the ear to the police station and warned them that Christie waa not to drive. Witness therefore took the wheel and was travelling at 15 miles an hour when the accident .occurred. Christie did not touch the wheel. Supporting evidence was given by others, including the traffic inspector who said the ear had a slight wobble in the steering. Christie was not fit to drive, but detention was unwarranted so the party was allowed to proceed, when Goldsmith gave the undertaking to drive. The coroner drew the attention of the local body to the need for a fenee at the spot, which was a dangerous one.