LORRY OVER BARK.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 2516, 20 December 1927, Page 5

LORRY OVER BARK.

ACCIDENT NEAR AWAKING. BOY DIES FROM INJURIES. An accident which might have been attended with still more serious consequences occurred about half a mile from Awakino, on the Te Kuiti side of the road, at about 11.45 a.m. or. Sunday last, when a lorry, driven by Mr. F. Bredenbeck, of Te Kuiti, carrying a picnic party of 28 children and parents to Mokau, went over a bank, falling a distance of some 60 feet. A number of the party received injuries, and Max Bredenbeck, son of Mr. F. Bredenbeck, who sustained serious hurt, died in hospital yesterday morning. The injured were:— Max Bredenbeck, aged 10; fracture to left leg, severe burns, and bruises to the body and shock.— Since died in hospital. Gordon Weir, son of Mr. G. H. Weir, Postmaster of Arapae; fractured ribs and shock. hospital.

The following, also injured, were able to return to their homes: —

Rita Weir, aged 12; injuries to shoulder.

Mrs. F. Bredenbeck, shock and injury to arm.

Levinia Bredenbeck, aged 12; in juries to ankle and shock.

Mrs. B. Condon (wife of Mr. B. Condon, Awakino Road); injuries to leg and shock.

Marian Condon, aged. 13; cuts about the head and thigh.

Kathleen Condon, aged 3; bruises and minor injuries.

Jack Condon, aged 6; bruises about the body.

Tommy Cox (son of Mr. T. Cox, Arapae, farmer); slight injury to ribs.

Jack Fitzgibbons, Te Kuiti, labourer; broken ribs.

The accident occurred as the result of a tie-pin becoming detached from the steering apparatus, and the machine got out of control. Mr. Bredenbeck applied the brakes immediately and shouted to the occupants of the lorry as the latter went over the bank, overturning several times in its career riverwards with its lead. The occupants were hurled forcefully in all directions. The vehicle came to rest on a protruding embankment, but for which, together with its occupants, the machine must have been hurled into the river a few feet further on, with dire results.

Max Bredenbeck was pinned under the lorry, and was extricated with seme difficulty. Assistance was given by motorists to the extricating of the injured, who were brought to the top of 'the road. A passenger, Mr. J. Dowie, went to Awakino for assistance, and a number of residents proceeded to the scene of the mishap in cars. The injured were taken to Awakino and attended by Dr. cle Castro, who was summoned from Te Kuiti, and also by Dr. Day, of Pio Pio, assisted by Sister Crawford, of Awakino. The injured were brought to Te Kuiti by 'Mr. A. E. Magon, who was sent for shortly after the accident. Some damage was done to the lorry, the cab being completely smashed. INQUEST HELD. The inquest was held yesterday afternoon on tile body of Max Eric Bredenbeck, before Mr R. M. Somerville, District Coroner. The driver, F. Bredenbeck, father of the deceased, stated that as he was approaching the place where the accident occurred the nut from the steering yoke of the stub-axle came off and the- lorry got out of control and somersaulted over the bank, falling a distance of abcl.it 60 feet. Witness app’ied the brake immediately, thereby breaking the force of the precipitation at its commencement. The occupants were burled forcefully out of s’tbe lorry. Witness’s prompt action in applying the brakes when be discovered the machine to be out of control had the effect of braking the force of the fall, otherwise the consequences must have been even more serious for the occupants. The deceased was fchild under the engine of the lorry. When extricated it . was found that he had been severely scalded by boi 1iug water from the radiator and bis !c<q was broken. Witness would lie driving at about eight miles per hour at the time of the mishap. l'n reply to a question by the Coroner, witness stated that his lorry was not licensed to carry passengers. On this occasion lie was carrying a picnic party and no charge was made for conveyance. A MECHANICAL WEAKNESS. Witness thought that the particular nut which came off causing the accident was -a weakness in the steering gear of motor lorries. Something more than a nut with a cotter pin should- bo used on this part of the steering! apparatus. There had been several accidents from the same cause recently in the district, stated witness, though fortunately not attended with casualties. Witness had examined the loiry at the garage before starting on the trip and it was mechanically in order. Dr de Castro gave evidence as to tho nature of the injuries received by the deceased, the shock from which was the ciMse of death. Tho Coroner returned a verdict of death from shock following injuries and severe burns received as the result of a motor accident. PROGRESSING SATISFACTORILY. The latest reports from the Te Kuiti Hospital state that Gordon Weir is now. progressing satisfactorily, and as far as is known those mentioned above in the list of injured are all doing well.