FATAL COLLISION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15951, 23 June 1915, Page 4

FATAL COLLISION

-■ .♦ QUEEN STREET ACCIDENT. INQUIRY BY THE CORONER. An inquest was held at the Magistrate's Court yesterday into the circumstances of the death of George James Wood, who died as the result of injuries received in a collision between a tramcar and a taxicab in Queen Street on June 11. Albert Wood, the driver of the taxicab, and a son of tho deceased, said that he was driving his father and two other passengers to the wharf about 8 p.m. When in the vicinity of Durham Street a boy ran out in front of the car. He applied tho brakes, but the car commenced to skid. He then released the brakes, put on more speed, and endeavoured to cross the line, but a tramcar struck the taxicab near the rear wheel. His father was injured, and was later removed to the hospital. Witness was travelling at about seven or eight miles an hour when he saw the boy, and to avoid him he had to swerve across tho line.

Georgie Fowlie, the motorman, said that the car was travelling at from 10 to 12 miles an hour when the taxicab crossed about Bft in front of it. Witness applied the emergency brakes, but was unable to avoid a collision. He saw a passenger's • head fall forward, and concluded it had been knocked against the back of the taxicab.

Andrew Somerville, one of fee passengers in tho taxicab, said that after it swerved to avoid the boy the deceased stood up and looked over the side to see what became of the boy. At that moment the collision occurred, and' deceased was apparently struck by a stanchion of the tramcSr.

A verdict was returned that Wood died of injuries received in a collision between a taxicab and a tramcar, but the evidence did nob show that there was any blame attachable to the driver of the taxicab or the motorman.