MOTOR-CAR FATALITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16205, 15 April 1916, Page 9

MOTOR-CAR FATALITY.

DEATH DUE TO ACCIDENT.

DRIVER* NOT TO BLAME.

A verdict of accidental death was returned by Mr. F. V. Frazer, coroner, at the conclusion of the inquest on William Baxter Simpsor. a commercial traveller, who was knocked down by a motor-car in Queen Street on the afternoon of April 5. Tho inquiry wits resumed yesterday afternoon. Chief-Detective McMahon appeared for the police, Mr. E. P. Dromgool for the relatives of the deceased, and Mr. R. P. Towle represented tho driver of tho car, John Watson Cox.

Evidence was given by F. J. Cox, brother of tho driver, and Sergeant-Major Williams. The former was in the car at the time of the accident. Both witnesses were of opinion the accident could not have been avoided, and that every precaution was taken by the driver.

Tho coroner, in tho course of his verdict, said:— was at tho timo a competent driver, and was lawfully undergoing a test for a driver's certificate of competency under the supervision of the city traffic inspector. The cause of tho accident was that the deceased suddenly started to run across Queen Street without having first looked along the street to see if any traffic were approaching. „ I find that the motor-car was being driven at a reasonable speed, that the horn was sounded twice at the intersection of Queen and Victoria Streets, and that tho driver took all possible steps to avoid a collision."

The coroner added that although the boy Cox was only 13J years old, yet he was remarkably intelligent and wonderfully well developed physically for his age. He was quite strong enough, and had sufficient intelligence to manage the car. Tho law fixed no age limit for those driving private cars. Whether the City Council should consider the matter, or whether the Government should take steps to amend tho law was for future consideration. He was of opinion that the boy Cox was a competent and intelligent driver.