FATAL ACCIDENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 182, 3 July 1936, Page 10

FATAL ACCIDENT

CORONER'S [N QUIRY. CHARGE AGAINST DRIVER. Arising out of tlie deatli of Mrs Alice Wilson, aged G 9, who was killed as the result of being struck by a motorcar driven ’by Mrs Kathleen Ada Hughes in Church Street on May 16, an inquest was opened before the Coroner (Mr A. J. Graham) this morning. Simultaneously, before Messrs M . Low Black and J. A. Cruickshauk, J.P.’s, Mrs Hughes was charged that on May 16, at Palmerston North, she did negligently drive a motor-car, thereby causing the death of Mrs A\ ilson. , , Mr M. H. Oram appeared for accused and Mr J- M. Gordon for the children of deceased. Dr. V. C. Martin, house surgeon at the Palmerston North' Hospital, gave evidence that he had examined deceased at the Hospital on her admittance. He gave details of the injuries sustained by deceased, among which were an extensive scalp wound on the left side and bruises. She said she was not in pain, but death occurred twenty minutes after her admission. He had conducted a post-mortem examination and found that there was no fracture of the head or injury to the brain. Death was due to shock following haemorrhage and other injuries. Mrs Mary Bui ford, landlady of deceased in evidence, stated that deceased’ had good health,, her eyesight was good, and' she was very active tor her age. She often rode a bicycle and was always very careful. Mrs Lettiee E. Fenton, who witnessed the accident, said she saw two cais approaching the Princess Street intersection, proceeding towards the Squaie. She thought that they were travelling at an excessive speed. Another woman spoke to witness and mentioned the speed of the cars. “It’s quite sate now, isn’t it?”'she asked, after lookini’- around, although there were headlights in the distance. Mrs "Wilson was the other person, and she then proceeded to cross Church Street, going quietly towards the pavement. Witness had no idea how far the headlights were away when Mrs "Wilson commenced to cross the intersection, nor did she have any idea of the speed ot the cars. She thought there was time for anvone to get across safely, She did not notice if the car increased or decreased its pace approaching the intersection. When the car was close Mrs "Wilson began to run and was beyond the crown of the road; in tact, "just near the kerbing when she was struck. ‘‘The driver was on the correct side of the road,” said Mis henton The intersection was desoited at the'time. the night was fine, but dark, but there was no dunculty in seeing deceased as she walked across the Jn answer to Air Oram, witness, said she did not know which part of tlie car struck deceased. She had no knowledge of motor-cars, but she knew when it was safe to cross the road when a car was approaching. Questioned by Mr Gordon, witness said the car was some way up Church Street and was travelling at a D ootl SP Joh,i R. Wingate, who also witnessed the accident, said that Mrs Wilson had a ooed look round and then seemed to 'falter before she ?et out to cross the road. He saw tlie car approaching and he called out to her to run. She did so. but tlie car struck her about ten feet from the pavement. Continuing his evidence Air Wingate said after the car struck deceased the car travelled about the length of the Court room before it pulled up. He bad no idea what speed the car was travelling at. He could not sav whether it was going fast or slow. He dul not think tiro car slackened speed, nor did he hear the horn sounded, tie had no difficulty in seeing Mrs Wilson cross the road, and he did not see any other care in the vicinity at the time of the accident. He had notified the police of tlie accident. In answer to Mr Oram, witness said that when he called to deceased to run she did not look to right or left, but simply went straight ahead.. Ihe car stopped where deceased was picked up. Tt travelled in a straight line. At this stage the Coroner said He did not desire to hear further evidence.- His verdict would be that deceased died from Haemorrhage and bodv injuries through being struck by a car driven bv Kathleen Ada Hughes. Proceeding with the charge ot negligent driving the police called Samuel John Dunn, who said that alter toe car struck Mrs Wilson it seemed to increase its speed. He did not see deceased actually struck. He thought tlie car travelled about 115 yards after the. collision. Afterwards Mrs Hughes said, “What have I done. Is she badly hurt? I have never had anything Idee this before. 1 did not see the lady.” Senior-Sergeant Mori-arty handed in a statement in which Airs Hughes said that a.t about 7.45 p.m. on May 16 she. was travelling at about 15 miles an hour up Church Street. She was not certain about the speed, but it was not fast. After crossing the. intersection she heard the car strike something, but- she did not see anything. She pulled up and drew to the kerbing. She ran back and found' tlie woman lying on the roadway. Her attention had been attracted by the lights of an approaching car. She had several passengers. Her brakes were in good order. She was travelling on the correct side near the crown of tlie road. The bumper must have struck deceased.

Constable P. P. O’Boyle gave evidence of taking measurements. There was 1a pool of blood -10 feet from where the impact took place. Mr Oram asked witness how lie knew where the point of impact was. The witness replied that there was a pool of bloocl -.10 feet from the approximate point of impact, which was IS feet from the kerbing. There were some trees in adjoining sections, but some distance away. Mr Oram 'asked witness what he meant bv the point of impact. Witness remarked that Constable Chapman had shown him where it was. It was where the woman had been struck. “Then it was' not from your own observations,” remarked Mr Oram. “J was not there at the time, replied witness. “Then 'all your evidence concerning this point is heresay,” remarked Mr Oram. Constable O’Boyle went on to say that the pool of blood was exactly u9it 4in from the building line of the corner houses. Mr Oram: “Why didn’t you say that at first?” Constable G. E. Chapman said lie accompanied Constable O’Hoyle to the scene of the .accident and pointed out various marks on the road to linn. Constable O’Hoyle made the actual measurements. ~ This closed the evidence lor the police. CASE FOI? DEFENCE. Mr Oram said the police evidence was mainly on the speed of the ear. Mrs Fenton admitted she had no idea of «pecd, and Mr Wingate could give no accurate estimate of the speed of the car. The Court was thrown back on to the evidence of Dunn. He first »w th,- car when it was 100 yards .town Cfc-arcJi HPiwrt i- .*< tuna toil

the speed at from 30 to 35 miles an hour. That was ridiculous as Dunn could not estimate the speed because he said lie was watching the woman continuously. The accident was caused through the foolish hut well-meaning advice of the people who told her to run. That was the explanation of the accident. If that were the opinion ol the Bench they should dismiss the case and not involve the country and Mrs Hughes in the expense of sending the ease to the Supreme Court. Mrs Jessie Mitchinson, called by Mr Oram, said her child was an invalid The date of the accident was her child’s birthday, and Mrs Hughes had called and taken witness and her child for a drive. Witness did not think the car was travelling at more than 20 miles an hour at any stage. If the car were going fast her child could not have kept her seat, as she hud no control over her limbs. If Mrs Hughes were a fast driver she would not have gone out with her. Cross-examined by Detective-Sergeant .Rickerdike -Mrs Mitchinson said that her attention was mostly directed on her child in the rear seat. In answer to Mr Oram witness said there was a lot of traffic about at tlie time of the accident. It was a Saturday night. She was often out driving with her husbapd and she had ft good idea of speed. | At this stage the Court adjourned for lunch.