DEATH IN HOSPITAL FOLLOWS ACCIDENT

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6946, 27 June 1929, Page 8

DEATH IN HOSPITAL FOLLOWS ACCIDENT

Run Down By Car

CORONER ABSOLVES DRIVER FROM BLAME

The coroner (Mr. A. J. Graham) yesterday morning conducted an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Miss Daphne Ida Wheeler, who died in the Palmerston North hospital on June 12, after being admitted with severo injuries sustained in a motor accident. The evidenco showed that the girl was accidentally run down by a car driven by Mr. T. P. Conway, of Fitzherbert. The coroner returned a verdict of accidental death stating that no blame was attachable to Mr. Conway. Contributing factors had been the bad visibility caused by rain, and the fact that the girl had made a sudden step towards the middle of the road which had brought her directly in the path of the oncoming vehicle. Before closing tho inquiry, Mr. Graham expressed his sympathy to the bereaved relatives. Sergeant Joyce led the evidence, while Mr. A. M. Ongley appeared for the late Miss Wheeler’s relatives, and Mr. Oram for Mr. Conway. David Storer Wylie, medical practitioner, of Palmerston North, gave medical evidence. He had examined deceased at the hospital and was of the opinion that death had resulted from a fracture of the base of the skull, with severe cerebral concussion. Deceased’s injuries were consistent with her having been knocked down by a motor-car. Accident -Described. Thomas Francis Conway stated that on the afternoon of June 12 he had left his place on Walker’s line at Longburn at 4.30 p.m. in order to return t£ Palmerston North. As time had gone on, the lights had become very bad and witness had slowed down his ear to a speed of about 15 m.p.h. Shortly before reaching the intersection of Cook and Church streets, he had run into the full glare of the headlights of another car which had made visibility very bad. He had been on his correct side of the road and driving slowly when he had suddenly perceived a red coat worn by a person not more than a foot from the car. Next moment the machine had struck this person, the rear wheels appearing to pass over the prostrate body. Witness bad pulled up within a distance of six yards and had found a woman lying injured on the road. He had immediately picked her up and taken her to the police station in his ear.

In reply to a question from the Coroner, witness stated that heavy rain had been falling at the time. Mr. Ongley asked whether witness could dim the headlights on his car and Mr. Conway replied that he had a switch fitted for that purpose. His lights, however, had been full on at the time of the accident. His ear was also, fitted with a hand windscreen wiper, which he had been using frequently prior to the collision. He had often travelled that particular stretch of road and was aware that there were no footpaths on either side. He knew that, for this reason, he might expect to encounter pedestrians on the Toad. The ear, the headlights of which had dazzled him, had been only about two chains away from witness’s car when the accident had occurred. He had not put on the brake before tho accident because he had not had time to do so. A Wet Windscreen.

Mr. Ongley suggested that had witness lifted his windscreen, instead ot looking through the wet glass, the approaching headlights would not have had the same dazzling effect. Witness: Possibly not. Mr. Ongley again suggested that Mr. Conway should have lifted his windscreen. Witness: It is not usual to do so. Mr. Ongley: It is just a question as to whether a man is entitled to sit comfortably in a car shut out the elements and risk the public, or whether he should risk the elements for the safety of the public. Mr. Ongley asked witness whether ho would be surprised to know that there was a man in Court who would swear that he had been four chains away from the scene of the accident and yet there had been no car botween himself and the injured girl. Witness stated that ho would be very surprised to hear such evidence. Iu reply to a further question, he stated that he had not endeavoured to stop the other car, which had passed him slowly while he had been picking up the girl. In replying to Mr. Oram, witness stated that the wind had been blowing from behind him and therefore if deceased had had her umbrella raised, it would have been between herself and witness’s car. This would make it more difficult for him to see the gin walking along the road. Eichard Thomas Carnc, who had been a passenger .with Mr. Conway at the time of the accident, corroborated the driver’s evidence. Witness had not seen anybody on the road but had felt a bump and seen an open umbrella fly across the road.

Mr. Ongley had no questions, but in reply to Mr. Oram, witness slated that lie had been keeping a look-out the whole time. His view had not been obstructed, as he had been looking round the side of the windscreen. An Eye-witness.

The nest witness was Arthur Drain, of £l2 College street, who stated that at the time of the accident he had been. cycling along Church street about two chains on the town side of the Cook street intersection. He had seen a girl walking iu Church street on tho other side of the intersection. She had been carrying a big umbrella and walking on the left hand side of tho road. A motor-car had been proceeding along Church streot behind tho girl. When the girl had been about a chain and ahalf from the corner she had suddenly taken a step towards tho middle of the

road and next moment she had been struck by tho car behind her. Sho had appeared to step in front of the oncoming vehicle. Witness differed from Mr. Conway as to the direction of the wind, which, he stated, had been blowing behind him on his way down Church street. In reply to Mr. Ongley, witness stated that it had been hard to tell which way the girl had been walking, as she had had a big umbrella over her head. Witness had been four chains away from the girl when the accident had occurred and he was certain that there had been no second car between himself and the scene of the accident. He had not seen any other car, either coming or going. Witness had walked four chains to where Mr. Conway was picking up the girl and just as ho had arrived, a car had passed slowly proceeding from the direction of town. Witness was of the opinion that the visibility had been fairly good at the time. Sergeant Joyce produced witness's signed statement in which ho had stated that the light had been very bad at tho time. Witness admitted that this statement bad not been absolutely correct in this respect, as the light had not been bai. In replying to Mr. Oram, witness stated that he did not think Mr. Conway could possibly have avoided the accident, which had been caused by tho girl suddenly stepping out towards the middle of the road. He assumed the girl had made this sudden step in order to avoid a pool of water, which witness had noticed on the side of tho road. In evidence, Elsie Claire Vining stated that deceased had been visiting her home prior to the accident and had left about 4.40 p.m. She had held her umbrella in front of her face to guard against tho wind and had walked on the correct side of the road. Deceased’s eyesight was bad and she had been wearing glasses. Witness had been able to see deceased when she had been some chains away from her. The evideneo closed when Clarence Kalph Wheeler, brother of deceased, gave evidence of identification.