TAITA GORGE SMASH

Northern Advocate, 17 December 1928, Page 6

TAITA GORGE SMASH

TAXI-DRIVER -SOBER

(Per Press Association. —Copyright.) WELLINGTON, This Day,

At the inquest on Joseph O ’Neill, the victim of the Taita Gorge accident, Sergeant, driver of -the taxi, said he had not been paid for the journey, but the meter was registering at least up to the time of the first accident. He could not swear that it was register? ing after that. Dr Parr, who- had eoane to the scene of the accident subsequently, gave witness a certificate as to ,his condition. Deceased was in a very intoxicated condition. Sergeant MeHolm said Sergeant call<?id, on the Lower Hutt police to report the accident early in the morning. -Sergeant was sober when, witness saw him and witness could not find .any signs of liquor on him. Later in .the day, witness saw Dr Parr who certified as to the sobriety of Sergeant after the accident.

VERDICT' OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH

DRIVER SEVERELY CENSURED

(Per Press Association. —Copyright.)

WELLINGTON, This Day,

The inquest on Joseph 0 ’Neill, killed as the result of a taxi going over a bank in the Taita 'Gorge in the early hours of December 3, 'was concluded today.

■A constable in evidence said the wheel marks showed that the oar went gradually close' to the bank and then went over.

Mr P. J. Oißogan, who appeared for the wife of the deceased, said the deceased was a highly resected man and generally of sober habits, but on the Saturday before the accident had won £IOO in a “double” and wished to stand his friends a drink. The verdict •was that death was caused by a fractured skull received when, the taxi in which he was riding, and which was driven by E. W. Sergeant, was accidentally driven over the side of the road in the Taita Gorge.

The Coroner commented on the intoxicated state of two passengers, the deceased and Horsfall, and said that as regards the driver there was no evidence to show he was intoxicated. There -was evidence, however, that the driver had had some liquor. “A taxi-driver, 7 ' continued the Coroner, “ is responsible for the safe conduct of passengers, whatever their condition, and I think the conduct of the driver in taking liquor; in taking men in their condition into his car; taking them for a drive; in stopping at an hotel for liquor, which was refused, and then in stopping at another hotel and obtaining and partaking of liquor; is deserving of the severest censure. He is obviously unfit, I think, to hold a taxi-driver’s license. 7 7