MAY HAVE STOOD ON ACCELERATOR INSTEAD OF BRAKE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6538, 21 February 1928, Page 7

MAY HAVE STOOD ON ACCELERATOR INSTEAD OF BRAKE

Possible Explanation Of Wanganui Accident CORONER'S CAUSTIC COMMENT ON SPEEDING ■ (“Times” Special.) . WANGANUI, Last Night. “These young men have paid the penalty for their rashness. They were undoubtedly, travelling at an excessive speed. It was a good thing that they did not also cause the death of other people. Motorists who drive at 40 miles an hour round a turn are a, menace to other motorists on the road.” This was the comment of the Coroner, Mr. J. J. Pilkington, after conducting an inquest to-day into the deaths of David Hector M'Kenzie, of Wellington, and William J; Earle, of Khandallah, whose bodies were terribly mutilated when their car crashed over a bant on the Marangai Hill, five miles from Wanganui last Wednesday even' ing. Evidence was given by Thomas Quirt, a motor mechanic, who said ho was driving from Turatina to Wanganui. Shortly before 6 o 'clock he was approaching the Marangai Hill when a car overtook and passed him at about 35 to 40 miles an hour. He saw the car, swing outwards as it rounded tha bend. . When he reached tho bend he looted for the car and as it was not' on the road he pulled up and looked into the paddock and there he saw tho car on its wheels 80 yards or 100 yards down the bank. It was badly smashed. Further investigation revealed two men dead, badly smashed about, And a third man, who although dazed was not badly injured. He considered the corner a safe on«i to take at a reasonable speed. William Emery de Malmanche, thel third man, said that he was picked up at Levin. M'Kenzie drove till they got to Wangaehu and then Earle took the wheel. Before they started to descend the hill they were travelling perhaps 40 miles an hour, and he did not think that speed was checked when they came to tho first bond. Ho did not think Earle was expecting it. • He felt the car skid and knew Earle was in difficulties. He thought the car was going to capsize. Earle partly righted the car, and it crossed the road again and" then seemed to leap off the road across the fence.

Witness,-could not recount what happened then, for he did not know what occurred to him or how he escaped. Prior to the accident ho was sitting in the centre. It was possible that Earle put his foot on the accelerator instead of the brake. Such a mistake would account for the car appearing ttf jump as it left the road. ■ They had stopped at Foxton, Bulls,, and Turakina, and had light drinks of porter gaff and shandies on the way. • The Coroner returned a verdict that McKenzie met his death through the' accidental overturning of a car in' which he was being driven at an excessive spe<s, and that Earle met hi* death through the accidental overturning of a car which he was driving.