FOUR KILLED

Northern Advocate, 4 May 1933, Page 4

FOUR KILLED

ISLAND BAY TRAGEDY EVIDENCE AT INQUEST. • -TARTY VISITS CABARET. (Per Press Association.—Copyright.) WELLINGTON, This Day.

The inquest on the four victims of the tragic accident which occurred at midnight on April 1, when a motor car plunged over a 40ft bank at Island Bay, was resumed yesterday before the coroner, Mr L. Gilbertson, J.P. The victims were: Olga Beryl Bardebes, aged IS; .Ernest Joseph Dickson, aged 24; Janies Henry Wood, aged .14, and his wife, -Margaret Gilniour Wood, aged 34.

Eunice Dickson, widow, mother of Ernest Dickson, said that on the evening before the accident she knew ho intended to go to a daueo with Miss Bardebes. They had dccu keeping company for some time. Witness saw no sign of drink on him or any other member of the party before they left. Katherine M. Bardebes, mother of Olga Bardebes, said that her daughter left home about 7..15 ou the evening of April 1 with Dickson. She knew that they were going to a dance. The girl was not in the habit of drinking at all.

Medical Evidence

Dr. R. B. Martin said he was called to the scene of the accident shortly after it occurred. Throe people were dead on the roadway beside the wrecked car, and another, Dickson, Avas obviously dying. Dickson and another passenger, Miss Morris, were sent to hospital. E. Hooker, who was said to be the driver of the car, was also sent to hospital suffering from shock and abrasions. Witness saw no evidence of alcohol on'him, and thought, he was remarkably composed, considering the ordeal lie had gone - through.*

In reply to Mr Leicester, for the relatives of Dickson and Miss Bardebes, the witness said that he concluded that Hooker had been in the car when it fell.

In reply to Mr Fitzgerald, for the owners of the car, who asked whether it was not remarkable that Hooker was not seriously injured, in view of the shattered state of the steering wheel, witness said he had seen twv previous instances of drivers being thrown forward and ' breaking the steering wheel without receiving serious injury.

Dr, Eugene, of the Wellington Hospital staff, said that Jbekson died about an hour and a half after his admission. Nothing could bo done for him. Miss Morris Avas still in hospi tal.

Mr Leicester: “From your surgical and medical knowledge, would you express an opinion as to whether it was remarkable or not that ihe driver, if he was in the car, should have only slight abrasions?”

"Witness: “Yes, I agree that it. would be remarkable, but I hesitate to draw any conclusions from that.” Horace T. T. Carter said that when he first saw the car it was upside down on the roadway. He and others lifted tiic car on to its side. The six occupants had been pinned underneath. One of them extricated himself without assistance. He appeared to have come from the back of the car.

In reply to Mr Leicester, witness said that he was first on the scene. The car appeared to have fallen squarely on its hood, which was completely crushed in. Prom the way the car had fallen, witness was astonished that anyone should be able to get out unassisted and uninjured.

Driver’s Testimony.

Gerald Fitzgerald, tyro dealer, said that he drove the car with a party of nine, including the deceased, to the cabaret at Island Bay on the evening of April 1. It was a seven-seater touring car, with left hand steering, and had been lent to witness by his father. It carried number plates, but he did not know whether it was actually registered. The party remained at the cabaret until about 11,30 p.m., when it was suggested that they should go home. Witness said that owing to a ■weak battery it took him some min utes to start the car, after which he drove round to the main entrance. Frank L. Hoare, a member of the party, accompanied him. He left the car in low gear and with brakes on, and went with Hoare to get the party together.. They passed four members of the party going out to the car. Neither witness nor Hoare could find Mr and Mrs Wood, and they then returned to find the car gone. They were away about 5 minutes. They walked down the hill, and, on not seeing the car, decided that the others had left them behind. Then they heard that there had been an accident, and went to investigate. Witness said that Honker told him

iliov had .boon sitting in tlio ear, and others-hod “jeered,’ ’ him to .drive. Hooker had asked him earlier if he eould have the car to take some of the girls home and he had refused. It was understood that witness was to drive the car home.' The brakes were in good condition. He knew from ex-

perience that he was net a good driver, witness continued. For that reason he had refused to allow Hooker to drive.

To Mr Baldwin, for Hooker, the witness said that it was never agreed that the- party should split up. Hooker expected him to come out to the car again and to drive them home, so there, was no need for Hooker to take

the car down the hill. It was not until .11.30 that any suggestion was made about the girls having to be homo by midnight. It was about the same time that Hooker suggested taking the car.

Chief Detective Carroll asked the witness if he knew that . there was very little lining on the brake shoes, and that in places the steel was bare. Witness replied that he did not know that, and could only judge the efficiency of the brakes from his own experience. The coroner: “What-drinks did yon have that night?” "Witness; “None. We had our supper at the cabaret. We had coffee.” “No drink was ’taken out to the car?”—“No.” : . "Witness added that the car was not a difficult, one for anybody who knew anything about cars to "drive, but its left hand steering might make it strange for a driver accustomed to the other type. T rank Leo Hoare said that his statements made to the police might not have been wholly true. When the car was lott it was parked facing downhill.

Norman Movers, motor mechanic, said he had driven the car on hills. The brakes were in good order. The car s number plates belonged to another. It had not been registered for 1033. The inf(uost was adjourned until today.