MOTOR FATALITY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 193, 20 July 1925, Page 6

MOTOR FATALITY.

LATE MR HARVEY

ENQUIRY OPENED AND ADJOURNED.

The city coroner (Mr J. S. Barton. S.M.) held an inquest at Wanganui on Saturday relative to the death of Mr Harold Harvey, of Palmerston North, who was killed in a motor accident at Maxwelltown.

Hugh Swainson, who was in company of deceased at the time, and who is a farmer residing at Feilding, in his evidence, said that on July 6 he motored with deceased from Tarata with the intention of going to Palmerston North. They left at 9 a.m. and reached a point near Maxwelltown about 6 p r;j. Deceased took the wheel three miles oil the south side of Hawera. Just before deceased took over, the clutch slipped, and it took half an hour to adjust it. Going down nil incline near Maxwelltown, there was a- bank on the right and a drop on the left. Coming round one bend witnessed noticed that deceased went close to the fence. Witness remarked to deceased that he was cutting it pretty fine. He just smiled. The car then commenced to wobble, as if a tyre bad burst, and got out of control. It ran up a bank to the right and came clean over. Witness was •underneath, and after the crawled out. The body of deceased seemed over the back seat, and from his waist upwards was clear, and the car was resting on his legs. -Witness could not extricate him. He never moved nor spoke. While the car was wobbling prior to the accident witness said : “What’s the matter, Harold?” but lie did not reply.

In answer to the coroner, witness said that he did not look at Harvey when the latter spoke, as he. was watching the car at the time. Continuing, witness said that deceased was a victim to heart trouble and he (witness) was of the opinion that a heart attack was the explanation for Harvey losing control of the car. Deceased was an experienced and careful driver, and at the time of the mishap he was not travelling more Ilian 20 miles an hour.

Police evidence was given by Constable Rogers, in which details of the damage to the car were submitted. In the opinion of witness the car, before mounting the bank zig-zagged in its course and eventually capsized. The machine was badly damaged, but the steering gear remained intact. There was also evidence that the car had skidded for a distance of twelve feet. The only mark on the body of deceased was a bruise on the right forearm.

At this stage the proceedings were adjourned till Tuesday.