BROAD STREET FATALITY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10118, 27 October 1917, Page 5

BROAD STREET FATALITY.

THE CORONIAL ENQUIRY,

An enquiry into tho circumstances touching the death of Francis WiJlialil Villurs, a boy of 10 yours, who war. killed as the result of coming- in contact with a motorcar whilst riding with another boy on a bicycle in Broad street on Tuesday lust, was held at the Courthouse this morning lie/ore Mr W. G. K. Ken rick, S.M., District Coroner.

Sub-Inspector McKinnon conducted tin. ■liquify, and Mr. A. M. Ongley watched tin l proceedings on bchuU of' Frederick lloult, the driver of the oar concerned. THE EVIDENCE.

Edmund Gerald Villars, father of lire deceased, guvo formal evidence of identification, Deceased was within a few days of wing ten years of age when lie was killed, and had been ~ pupil of the Catholic School, Broad street .

Dr. Stenjjahl stated that lie Was called to attend the deceased at about noon on iuesday last. When witness arrived deceased was alive but unconscious, and expired in a minute or two. Death was caused by injuries to his bend. There were symptoms of a fracture of the base of the skull.

MOW THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. ■Tames McfJili, merchant, ftavo evidence that at about midday on Tuesday lie was in the lower part of Broad street. lie noticed two boys, one of whom was deceased, on a bicycle, crossing the street towards the Square. Ho also saw a motor-cnr willi two passengers coining towards the Square. The cyclists were endeavouring to cross the road at an angle, one boy pedalling and the other Bitting on the bar. The car came along at ten or twelve miles an hour and struck the bicycle somewhere behind the saddle. The car was in the centre of the street at the tune of the collision. Thro was no traffic on the road. Tho car kept a straight course along the road: it did not deviate in the least. On the collision taking place, the boy riding on the bar was thrown off, and both right wheels of the ear seemed to go over the other boy. Witness immediately went to the scene of the accident, and tho boy was removed to an hotel nearby. Sub-Inspector McKinnon : Can you see any reason why the driver of the car could not have avoided tho accident ? Witness: lie could have avoided the accident had he seen the bicycle. Witness added that he did not think lloult saw the boys.

Sub-Inspector: Why do you think so? Witness: Because he did not make any deviation, or attempt to get round,them. Witness further said that as the boys came from the near side and Mr Ilonlt was driving on the off side, it was quite possible he did not see them. Witness said lie spoke to 11 on It immediately after the accident, and asked him if he saw the boys and how lip managed to run over thorn. Hoult replied that he saw the boys, who, he said, were wobbling. Witness contradicted him and said. "No, they were not." Witness did not hear a horn sounded. To Mr Ongley: When he first saw the bicycle and the car they were both approaching the Square, the bicycle being on the left side of iho road. The car was catching up and attempted lo pass on its proper side. The car would have had ample room to pass in safety had the boys kept on their course. Had the ear passed the bicycle at the place where witness first saw them, there would have been a space of twenly feet between them. The boys turned suddenly to cross the road al a slant in the direction of the Square, and then turned slightly up the street towards Terrace End. the latter turn being caused, witness thought, by the strong wind blowing. When they turned the second time tlie car was almost upon them. The boys' progress across the street was affected by the wind. Mr Hoult had the car well under control, and pulled •up in about 15 or 20 feel. The Coroner: Did Hoult reduce his speed before tho accident? Witness : No. The Coroner: About what distance would the car be away when the boys first commenced to slant across the road? Witness: About 30 feet. The boys slanted, and then turned suddenly to cross the road. ~ , The Coroner: Thai should not have prevented the driver seeing the boys. To the Sub-Inspector: If was usual for a motor to blow a horn or give a warning when approaching or passing another vehicle. DECEASED'S COMPANION. John Volt, aged 10 years, said he mid deceased left the Catholic, School in Broad street at, noon on Tuesday on witness's bicycle. Deceased was pedalling and witness rode on the bar. They were going to a sho)> in the Square. They rode down the street on tho left side to the Zcalandia Ilall and then started to cross the road to reach the bicycle track. They were halfway across the road when the, cur caught them. They never heard the car coming, nor did they see it approaching. When it struck the bicycle, witness was thrown clear, and when 'he got up deceased was lying on top of the bicycle on the road, with his face covered in blood. There was a strong wind blowing at the time, but it diil not interfere with their crossing the road. Tho bicycle did not wobble. Witness did not hear any horn or whistle blown.

To Mr Ongley: Witness did not see tho car, and deceased did not say anything about the car coming. When riding down the left sids of the road, they rode inside the row of trees. When they came out from the trees they attempted to go straight across tho road. Tho wind did not turn the bicycle up the street. William Mitchell, licensee of the Post Office Hotel, Broad street, gave formal evidence. . . , Sub-Inspector McKinnon said he wished to call further witnesses, and an adjournment was necessary. The Coroner granted an adjournment till Saturday next.