RECENT MOTOR FATALITY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 4 March 1932, Page 4

RECENT MOTOR FATALITY

INQUEST ON THE VICTIM DRIVER OF CAR EXONERATED FROM BLAME An inquest touching the death of ■Cyril Alexander M. Brown, aged 18 years, who died on 21st February as the result of a collision between a motor cycle he was riding and a car driven' by George L. Rees, was held yesterday afternoon before the Coroner, Mr T. E. Maunsell, S.M. SeniorSergeant Stark conducted the proceedings. Dr F. Hudson, Medical Superintendent at the Public Hospital, gave formal evidence that the deceased died from cerebral haemorrhage due to a fractured skull. Alexander Brown, father of the deceased, said his son was regarded as being a very careful driver. Jack Wallis Brown, residing at Shakespeare Walk, stated that the deceased was at his house, and when he left to ride away at 5 p.m. it was raining very hard. The deceased liad some trouble in getting the machine to start, and ran with it for about 20 yards. Witness did not see the cause of the accident. George L. Rees, the driver of the ear, stated that on the afternoon in question he was driving along Bridge street in the direction of Normanby bridge towards town. It was raining fairly ■hard but the visibility was all right. He was driving at about 20 miles per hour. When approaching the intersection of Shakespeare Walk and Bridge street lie blew the horn. His attention was attracted by a motor starting somewhere on his left. Thinking it was a car being tuned up he took no notice. When opposite the intersection he knew there was a motor approaching on his left, but was too far cast to. look. He swerved to the right as far as lie could and just as lie did so felt something touch the back of the ear. It was very slight and almost unnoticeable. He pulled up almost, changed into mid-gear and ran across the bridge. Then lie ran back to see -what the trouble was. He helped to carry the deceased into Mr Brown’s house. Doris May Rees, wife of the former witness gave corroborative evidence. Charles E. Parkinson, traffic inspector, said visibility for a motor cycle in Shakespeare walk at the time of the accident would be exceptionally poor. The left hand back axle cap of the car had been struck by the motor cycle’s right hand side. A verdict was returned in accordance with the medical evidence, no blame being attributable to the driver of the ear.