Motor Cyclist’s Death

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 55, 6 March 1937, Page 2

Motor Cyclist’s Death

COLLISION WITH LORRY. (Special to “Times.”) WAIPAWA, March 5. The coronial inquiry into tho circumstances surrounding the death of John Clinton Denne, of Waipukurau, which was opened on the 27th February and adjourned after formal evidence ot identification had been taken, was resumed this morning before the district coroner, Mr W. E. Yates. Thomas Clement Denne, of Waipukurau, cordial manufacturer, stated that about a week before the accident his son had had trouble with his front tyre and ho (witness) had seen him testing the front tube, which appeared to have a weak place in it. He had suggested that a new tube should be put in but Jack had said it would be allright for a while. Witness did not examine tho tube, but had said it would be lar better to replace it.

Dr. Frederick Hall gave as his opinion the cause of death was dislocation of the spine. • Death was almost instantaneous, and even if there had been help at hand there would have been little hope of his recovery. F. F. Hildreth, of Fernhill, stated that ho was driving his lorry from Wanstead to Fernhill on the evening of the accident. He had slowed down when approaching the bend at Alaulder's and was travelling on his correct side. He 1 was about two-thirds of the way round ' tho bend when he saw a motor-cycle 1 about 80 yards away coming from the opposite direction. When about 50-60 feet away deceased seemed suddenly to • turn in towards the lorry and it looked as though he would hit head on. The J cycle struck the forward corner of the J

lorry on the right-hand aide and then the rear -wheel. The bike seemed out of control. To the Coroner, witness said his lights were good and that there was no light on the cycle. Constable R. H. Moss, Waipawa, said ho had found, from an examination, that the front tube of the cycle was badly perished. In the opinion of witness when the motor-cyclist touched the high point in the road the front tube blew out causing the rider to lose control. It was impossible for the lorry to pull any further over to his left. The Coroner’s verdict was that Denne died from a dislocation of the spine, injuries received when a motor-cycle he was riding collided with a motor lorry driven by F. F. Hildreth no blame was attachable to the driver of the lorry, and there was no evidence of negligence on the part of the rider of the moto? cycle.