DEATH OF A BOY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 221, 1 September 1932, Page 7

DEATH OF A BOY

DANGER OF HANGING ON TO LOBBIES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, September 1. When returning a verdict of accidental death at the inquest on Douglas Graham Mark, aged 14, who was killed near the Basin Reserve by a Westport Coal Co. lorry, the coroner (Mr T. B. McNeil, S.M.) said that although there was no evidence to show that the deceased had been hanging on to the lorry, he thought it a suitable opportunity to draw attention to the very great danger of that practice. The driver gave evidence that he did not see the boy, but he felt a bump at the back of the lorry and, on looking back through the cab window, saw a boy on the ground with a bicycle beside him. He went back to the boy, who by then was being assisted by some other men. He asked him if he had been hanging on to the back, and the boy replied ‘ ‘ Yes. ’ ’ This evidence was corroborated by a passenger in the truck. A tram driver, however, said that the boy appeared to be trying to overtake the lorry on the corner, when it turned close to the kerb, and the boy then appeared to put his hand on the front mudguard in an endeavour to clear himself from the vehicle. As far as witness could see, the driver of the lorry was not responsible for the accident. Witness saw the left rear wheel of the lorry pass over the boy. The coroner said that he was unable to say whether the boy had been hanging on to the lorry or not, in any case the boy was clearly on the wrong side when attempting to pass it.. The driver had used every care in turning the corner, and did not know the boy was coming behind him.