CYCLING FATALITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17942, 18 November 1921, Page 9

CYCLING FATALITY.

BOY GOES OVER CLIFF. FAILURE OF A BRAKE. A hoy named Frederick George Roberts, aged 15 years, who resided with his parents at South -Dunedin, met with a fatal accident last Sunday afternoon. Accompanied by another lad, named Herbert Alexander Ball, he left home on a cycle at 2.30 p.m., and went up the high road leading to Portobello. Thinking they would like to return by the low road, and not knowing how to get down, tliey looked about for a way. They noticed a road that led down the hdl at Waverley toward the Portobello road, and started down, Ball riding in front. On reaching a ,«harp turn to the right he glanced round, and noticed that Roberts, who was some'distance behind, was coining on at a fair pace, Roberts then called to Ball to.get over to the side of the road, as he was tinablo to stop his machine. By the time he reached the bend he had lost all control of his bicycle, and could not take the turn. It is believed that he struck a post. However, ho was thrown from his machine, and rolled down a cliff on to the road. Ball jumped off Lis bicycle and was in time to see Roberts shoot into the air and roll down the cliff.

Alexander Frascr, who was walking yith his wife, says they saw a body rolling down the cliff, and rushed toward it. They stopped a motor-express, which was on its way to Dnnedin. The unfortunate lad was taken on to the express and conveyed to Dr. Lindon's residence at South Uunedjn. Dr." Lindon found that the lad's skull was crushed, and that life was extinct. Sergeant Scandrett said that on examination of the'bicyclo, which was subsequently found caught against a tree, it was found • that the cable of the front fheel brake, which was the only brake on the machine, was broken.' A sad feature was that the lad had been saving lus money to .purchase a new back wheel brake. He had had the bicycle for about 'nree weeks, and was not a very capable rider.