KILLED ON THE ROAD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18710, 16 May 1924, Page 11

KILLED ON THE ROAD.

BODY DRAGGED TO ONE SIDE. POLICE NOT NOTIFIED. CHRIST/CHURCH MOTOR FATALITY. fBT TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHKISTCHTJRCH, Thursday. The peculiar attitude of mind of a motorist who, after finding the body of a man and dragging it to the side of the road, failed to notify the police until after two adjournments of an inquest had taken place, was commented upon by the coroner, Mr. H. M. Widaowson, at an inquiry concerning the death of H. J. Goodenough, on April 21. The body of Goodenough was found lying beside the River Avon near the corner of Cowlishaw Street and River Road.

At a , previous inquest evidence was given that Goodenough had been seen under the influence of liquor earlier on the day of his death. A taxi-driver, S. D. Mills, also gave evidence of his car having appeared to strike something at the spot where Goodenough's body was found, but he did not think he had passed over a man, and therefore did not stop to investigate. Two children who found the body said they had seen a motorist stop and drag the body to the side of the road. This was after the first car had passed by. The inquest was continued and concluded to-day, when Arthur Edward Williams, residing at Riccarton, said he was passing along River Road in a motorcar about 7 p.m. on April 21. Near the corner of Mile Road, witness saw an object on the road, and coming closer saw that it was a man lying full length on the road, parallel with the footpath. Witness ran past him and pulled up, as he thought it might be someone requiring assistance. It was very dark, so ho struck a match. The man did not answer. His face was on the road. At that moment witness saw another car coming along the road in the same direction as he had come, so he caught the man by the shoulder and dragged him to the side of the road, and left him so that he would be clear of the footpath. Witness was positive that his car did not go over the man. If he had gone to the police immediately they would have said that he had run over him.

" The cause of death appears to be quite clear, that deceased had received very severe injuries to his head and! body," said the coroner in summing up. The facts are that Goodenough did not enjoy very good health, and unfortunately i took liquor,- which affected him very quickly. This, no doubt, was due to an operation. It seems to me if Mills had been keeping close watch on the road he should have seen the deceased. If one could see him surely the other could. So far as Mills is concerned, the running over of deceased was purely an accident. The road at the particular part is very badly lighted. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are both positive that. their car did not go over him. He might have been run over lengthway, but I do not see how the injuries could have been received like that. Apparently deceased fell and crawled on to the road. With regard to Williams' attitude in this matter, it is only after the last inquest that he has come forward. It is a most unfortunate position of mind to be in. Although it is quite clear that deceased had . received mortal injuries, Williams did not know that the "man might not have been drunk, and the least he could have done was to go into the house next door and have the unfortunate man attended to. I cannot understand his attitude of mind." The coroner returned a verdict that deceased was accidentally run over and crushed by a motor-car.