ELDERLY MAN'S DEATH

Northern Advocate, 23 March 1934, Page 9

ELDERLY MAN'S DEATH

CONCLUSION OF INQUEST. FISH HEALER ARRESTED. NEGLIGENT DRIVING ALLEGED. (Special to “Northern. Advocate.”) AUCKLAND, This Day. An inquest concerning the death in the Auckland Hospital on February 12 of Mr Alexander Riddell, aged 75, of Herbert Road, Mt. Eden, was concluded before Mr W. R. McKean, S.M., coroner. Deceased was injured when he was struck by n motor van at the junction of Fanshawe and Nelson Streets, city, on February 2. Dr. T. TI. Jngnsch, of the staff of the Auckland Hospital, said the cause of death was pneumonia, developed by the fact of an elderly man having to lie in bed after having an anaesthetic. Deceased received a fracture of the leg. Michael Mariuovich, tish dealer, of Upper Queen Street, said that as he turned to the right liis van was passed by a. car travelling towards the city. A man walked from behind the car and witness did not notice him until ho Was close. Witness was watching

traffic coming from Sturdee Street on the right, and was travelling very slow Te swerved unsuccessfully to the :o avoid a collision. b’Oncr returned a verdict that d to was due to pneumonia, the effect of deceased being kept in bed after an anaesthetic was necessarily admiuis tered when he was admitted to hospital suffering from injuries received from being knocked down by a van negligently driven by Mnrinovieh. From the driver’s evidence, the coroner added, it appeared he was concerned not so much by what might have been on the road ahead, but with traffic coming from the right. To look out for traffic, of course, was a driver’s duty, but that did not absolve a driver from the necessity of looking where ho was going. Had the driver kept a clear lookout, continued the coroner, ho must, have seen deceased. It also seemed that ho commenced to turn too early. It ho had. turned in accordance with the regulations, he would have passed behind deceased, and the coroner commented flint he would not say there was no blame on the part of the driver. Arrested last evening, Michael Marinovich was charged before a Jus-

tice of the Peace with negligent],)’ driving a vehicle causing deal a iSenior-Gergcanl Flannagan appeared for flic police, accused being remanded to appear in court this morning. Bail was allowed in two securities of £IOO each.