FATAL ACCIDENT “DUE TO DRINK”

Northern Advocate, 28 January 1938, Page 2

FATAL ACCIDENT “DUE TO DRINK”

-CORONER

[Per Press Association. — Covynght.] AUCKLAND, This Day.

“This accident was caused by drink. There is no doubt about that,” said the coroner, Mr F. K. Hunt, today, at the conclusion of the inquest concerning the death of Andrew Miller Donnachie, aged 22. a service car driver, who died in hospital 12 hours after the car he was driving crashed into a telegraph pole in Tamaki Drive, Kohimarama, at 2 o’clock on Christmas morning. Evidence showed that Donnachie was accompanied by four other men.

One of them, who was in the front seat, was asleep ami when he fell aga'nst Donnachie's arm the latter lost control of the car, which swerved across the road on the wrong side, and struck a pole.

All the occupants, with one exception, were taken to hospital, Donnachie died at 2 o’clock the same afternoon.

According to the police, all occupants appeared to have been intoxicated, seven full bottles of beer and five empties being found in the wrecked car.

Dr, Beattie said that when admitted to hospital Donnachie smelt strongly of alcohol. The cause of death was internal haemorrhage resulting from laceration of the right lung. The coroner returned a verdict of death by injuries received when a car driven by deceased collided with a telegraph pole.