INQUEST IN HASTINGS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 273, 2 November 1932, Page 6

INQUEST IN HASTINGS

DEATH OF MR J. A. CATHERALL. DUE TO AN ACCIDENT. • The adjourned enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Joseph Andrew Catherall was resumed at the Hastings Police Station this morning. It will be remembered that the deceased was concerned in an accident on the Hastings-Napier road on October 18 last, and he died at the Napier Hospital two days later as the result of the injuries received. The Coroner (Mr Geo. Ebbett, J.P.) presided. Sergeant G. F. Boniscfa conducted the proceedings on behalf of the police, and Mr E. J. W. Hallett appeared on behalf of Mr J. A. fiurtinshaw. , James Archibald Burtinshaw said he was driving from Hastings to Napier and had two passengers in his car. Near the Karamu bridge there was a horse-drawn vehicle aiiead of him. Witness passed the vehicle and in doing so noticed a motor-cyclist coming in tlie opposite direction, and also another motor-cycle following. The front one was travelling at a moderate speed, but the rear one appeared to be going fast. Witness was on his proper side of the road when he passed the two cycles. He had just done so when a passenger mentioned that the cycles had crashed. In witness’s opinion the motor-cycles had sufficient room to pass. Witnesi backed his car to the scene of the accident and gave the injured man all possible attention until he was removed to the hospital.

Frederick Yems Wattie, of Napier, said he left the showgrounds at Hastings in a car driven by W. Whyte. Shortly afterwards a car overtook them. When this car pulled over on to its correct side again witness noticed a motor-cycle carrying two persons coming in the opposite direction. Immediately afterwards ho noticed a second motor-cycle following. It was travelling very fast and witness thought that it was out of control. When close to the front cyclist thu overtaking one pulled out with the intention of passing, but was unable to do so, with the result that he collided with the front cycle. There was a cart and a car in the vicinity at the time, but neither was within 60 yards. Witness saw that the rider was suffering from concussion and sent for a doctor. In the opinion of witness the accident was entirely due to bad judgment on the part of the deceased. Victor Hornby, of Hastings, said he was pillion riding on a motor-cycle along the main road and Ronald Martin was driving the machine. They passed a vegetable cart and at the time a motor-car was passing the cart, making three abreast. Their cycle was within a few inches of the edge of the concrete. Just as they were level the deceased tried to pass but brushed the first cycle, both machines crashing. Witness considered that the accident was due to the cart being too far over on the road and the deceased’s cycle not being equipped with an efficient brake.

Ronald Ray Martin, the rider of one of the cycles, said that there were two cars approaching him. The first car passed him, and then, when he was about to pass the other car and the cart, the deceased tried to pass witness, who swerved to the left to let him do so, but the cycle capsized, the other cycle also doing so. When witness slackened speed prior to reaching the bridge he knew the other cyclist was behind but did not know how far back. In his opinion the accident was caused through an error of judgment on the part of the deceased in trying to pass was not sufficient room.

Constable E. J. Gibbs said that after the accident he tested the deceased’s motor-cycle and found the hand brake to be useless and the footbrake of little use.

The verdict was that Catherall died from injuries received in a collision which took place on the HastingsNapier road on October 18 between a motor-cycle ridden by the deceased and a motor-cycle ridden by Ronald Ray Martin, both cycles travelling in the same direction, and while the deceased was passing the cycle ridden by Martin.

“It is quite clear that it would be a very difficult matter to place the responsibility for the accident upon anyone other than the deceased himself,” said the coroner. “He either made an error of judgment or else found that he was unable to pull up and was forced to take a chance in passing the other cycle because his brakes would not function properly.’ 1